“Somebody’s Daughter” Gala on 4/21 for Safe House
Experts say Florida is 3rd when it comes to human trafficking reports. It’s a horror Edie Rhea, President and Founder of Healing Root Ministry, experienced firsthand. “The house I grew up in looked like a model home,” Rhea says. “It had a white picket fence, four bedrooms, two baths – even a pool. But inside… hell was going on.”
Rhea was being trafficked by her mother’s boyfriend. As she explained in the WEDU documentary, Too Close to Home: Human Trafficking in Tampa Bay, it started at age ten and lasted well into her teens. Now, Rhea fights on behalf of other victims through her work as Founder of Healing Root Ministry, a non-profit organization that builds bridges between individuals, organizations, and government to tackle the root causes of human trafficking. They’ve recently opened The Gate – a safe house and transitional home for those rescued from human slavery.
To raise awareness and funds to support their mission, Healing Root Ministry is hosting the 3rd annual Somebody’s Daughter Gala on April 21st at 6:30pm at the Epic Center in Tampa. With a “Great Gatsby” theme, attendees will enjoy dinner, dancing, a silent auction, and more. Tickets are $75 per person or $125.00 per couple. The non-profit is also seeking corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations for the silent auction. Rhea is currently available for interviews on her story as well as the gala.
For more information, visit www.healingrootministry.com or visit them on Facebook. For interviews with Edie, contact Edie at (813) 949-7495 ext 308 or edie@healingrootministry.com.
About Edie Rhea
Edie is a “thriver” of childhood sexual abuse and human trafficking. She has dedicated her life to aiding fellow survivors. Rhea is President and Founder of Healing Root Ministry, a non-profit organization that advocates for victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse and operates a safe house and transitional home for rescued victims. Edie shares her story to help others and is also an advocate for child abuse prevention.