Nonprofit Fighting Sex Trafficking Adds Advisory Council Members | Florida Weekly

By Florida Weekly Staff  - March 25, 2020
Click Here to read the article on Florida Weekly

Christy’s Cause, a local nonprofit working to eradicate child sex trafficking through education, public awareness, restoration projects and justice initiatives, announced new advisory council members Jason Perry and Sergeant Wade Williams. They join current members Jeff Cecil, Lt. Daniel Cote, Francine Donnorummo, Sam Galloway III and Wayne Smith.

“Our advisory council consists of thoughtful community leaders who meet once a year to advise our board of directors regarding the impact of our programs and fundraising,” said Christy Ivie, founder of Christy’s Cause. “These individuals are well-known and respected in the fight against human trafficking. We admire their work in our community and are grateful for their guidance.”

Human trafficking is on the rise, tied with arms dealing as the second largest criminal industry in the world and the fastest growing, according the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Thousands of American children are at risk of becoming victims of child sex trafficking, with Florida ranking third by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center in reported human trafficking cases.

WILLIAMS

Perry works in investment management and financial planning at Securities America Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenberg Thalmann Financial Corporation, one of the top 10 independent broker-dealer firms in the country with roots dating back to 1876 and more than $86 billion in total client assets under management. Perry has been dedicated to working alongside organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Christy’s Cause to eradicate child sex trafficking and the exploitation of children.

Sergeant Wade Williams, of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Special Crimes Bureau Exploitation Section, holds a Master of Science Degree in Criminology from Florida State University. He began his law enforcement career in 2003 as a patrol deputy and detective. He has extensive specialized training in the areas of leadership, community relations and investigations. He is responsible for managing Collier County’s Internet Crimes Against Children Federal Task Force, the Missing Persons Unit, the Internet Exploitation Unit and the Human Trafficking Unit; is the Supervisor for sworn Detectives and Civilian Deputies; a member of Child Abduction Response Team; and the on the Human Trafficking Task Force for the middle district of Florida.

“Working with our most vulnerable victims has given me the greatest sense of accomplishment than any other position in my career,” said Williams.

For more information about Christy’s Cause, visit www.christyscause.com or email info@christyscause.com.