by guest contributor Joe David
Photo credit: Patricia McDougall
It’s official! For the next 60 years, Donald Trump will have a home in Washington on Pennsylvania Avenue next to the White House at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The old post office building, which had fallen on hard times, has been refurbished and leased as a luxury hotel to the Trump Organization by the General Services Administration. By transforming the historic post office building into a glitzy Trump International Hotel, it is expected that the hotel will become the hottest new in-spot in Washington to stay and indulge yourself in costly luxury. Trump Enterprises, with a graceful wave of their magic wand, have turned the long-neglected historic post office into a Trump landmark with over-sized crystal chandeliers and an atrium with a skylight view to the stars.
The glitzy hotel was the backdrop for a somber concern this night though: Human Trafficking. Amidst all this extravagant luxury, devoid of the excesses of Trump-style glamour, is the tastefully elegant Lincoln Library. In this historic room with natural woods, trimmed in cream and gold, the non-profit Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) held a cocktail and charity reception Tuesday, September 27 for celebrities, socialites, and leaders from Hollywood and Washington committed to fighting human trafficking.
Although “The Donald” wasn’t there to share his celebrity with the guests, he did pause long enough in his campaigning to let America know that:“If I don’t make it to the White House, I will still make it to Pennsylvania Avenue.” Despite his absence, the evening was a huge success. Several hundred guests, many of celebrity status, gathered together comfortably to mingle and hear the speakers report on a major world problem.
Ms. Murray, AAI Board Member & Benefit Chair with Barbara Comstock (R-VA) who initiated the Secure Our Skies Act and recipient of trafficking of persons tip hero award
Nancy Rivard, an American Airline flight attendant who heads AAI, has been responsible for helping build what began as a grass-roots non-profit charity and turning it into a major international advocacy group raising awareness and fighting human trafficking. Under her guidance, the organization that began with just a few airline employees expanded into a network of students, medical professionals, families, and retirees who volunteer their time to share their skills to provide, protect, and advocate for orphans and vulnerable children.
Emmy award winning television journalist Chris Hansen, Dateline NBC To Catch a Predator hosted the event. “Human trafficking,” Hansen said, “has become the second biggest crime, next to drugs, and like drugs, it is ruining innocent lives. It is our duty to educate ourselves so that we can recognize and report it to the proper authorities. The buying and selling of women, girls, and boys is a frightening modern day form of slavery that must be stopped.”
MC Bobby Singerman and musician Keaton Simons
AAI has provided 45 Airport training seminars on human trafficking to date and has prepared over 4,000 front-line employees to recognize a few of the signs exhibited by victims subjected to human trafficking. Some of these signs include fear, shame, or nervousness. Many reveal no control of their travels plans, or knowledge of where they are going. Such signature behavior is often a red flag that something is seriously wrong and needs to be reported to authorities.
Actor Eric Roberts host of new PSA, ML Murray, Barbara Comstock
Others speakers included trafficking survivor Donna Hubbard who shared her touching childhood experience, M.C. Bobby Singerman, and Eric Roberts and Musician Keaton Simons, who previewed their new media campaign with the PSA “Save Us.” This moving video highlighted the tragedy of what is happening world-wide, to some of the most vulnerable and innocent people – our children – trapped in sexual bondage.
“Each week airline crew come in contact with thousands of people,” Rivard said, “and we are in the perfect position to spot the unusual and report it to authorities. That is why AAI’s training of the personnel is so vitally important. Hundreds of children have been saved because our members alerted authorities to unusual behavior noted on board one of their planes.”
ML Murray and Nancy Rivard, AAI President
According to Rivard, the airlines is one of the swiftest and most convenient ways to move people from place to place. Airline crew are in the perfect position to spot trafficking and report it before it can become a tragedy for its victim. “Some of the life-saving services offered by our volunteers,” Rivard said, “include seeing to it that the children receive proper medical care and humanitarian aid at orphanages and clinics in remote communities.”
Seven members of Congress were honored with the AAI Trafficking in Persons, 2016 TIP Hero Award, for their leadership and support of training airline staffers on human trafficking awareness. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) accepted the awards personally from Nancy Rivard and AAI Board Member and Benefit Chair, ML Murray. Senator Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Mike Honda (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Dina Titus(D-NV) and Ted Yoho (R-FL), other recipients of the TIP award, provided their glowing support with video messages.
Marcia Nelms, Deborah Sigmund, Founder of Innocents at Risk with Donna Hubbard
Some of the distinguished guests who attended the fundraiser included Miss Teen Virginia, Skye Jannery-Barney, (whose platform is combating human trafficking), Fernando Garcia, chief Anti-Trafficking Unit, OAS, Deborah Sigmund, founder, Innocents at Risk, Henry Marx, co-founder of Norse Network/Cybersecurity, and Dr. Denise Mitchem of Atlanta.
Sponsors included Committee for Dulles, Dulles IAD Rotary, Great Falls Rotary, Steve Joyce of Choice Hotels, Tom Campbell of DC Partners, Wendy and Scott Brewer of Pohanka Lexus, Barbara and Diane Lewis of Washington, Fine Properties, Terry and Bobby Burchfield, Holly and Bob Vagley, and Dan and Michaela Gorham, Kensington Properties.
Daniel Mahdavian, Director of Food & Beverage
Perhaps the high point was during a special VIP tour led by Michael Damelincourt, managing director of Trump International Hotels, in which a handful of VIPs watched Daniel Mahdavian, director of food and beverages, amazingly de-cork a magnum of Veuve Clicquot Champage with a saber.
The Find US initiative will raise needed funds for the work of AAI and provide beds for trafficking victims in the United States. Monies raised at this important gathering will be used to support the work of Airline Ambassadors and provide more training at airports throughout the U.S. on human trafficking awareness. Plans are being made to provide the staff at Trump International Hotel with suitable training on spotting trafficking. Last week’s reception was the first charity event at the hotel since its opening a few weeks ago. For more information, visit www.airlineamb.org
