Past Winners


Liberator of the Year

It all begins with passion. Passion and commitment to change the injustices of our world. Think of Rosa Parks, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, MLK, Gloria Steinem to name a few. They didn’t take NO for an answer, and they used their voices to better our world.

  • Judge Paul Herbert

  • Ohio Governor John Kasich

  • Michigan Senator Judy Emmons

  • Ian Kallay

  • Defiance College- Free the Slaves

  • University of Michigan Law Clinic

  • Dan Hess

  • Suleman Massod

  • Tammy Bitanga

  • Lisa Haba

  • Sally Popa

  • Steven Procopio

Volunteer of the Year:

Volunteers are the backbone of any organization fighting human trafficking. These individuals don’t get paid for helping to take survivors to appointments, collecting needed items, and just doing what needs to be done to further the cause. They sacrifice without getting paid because they are called to do this and we appreciate them immensely.

  • Chris Schumacher (OH)

  • Sister Sally Burke (OH)

  • Mona Al-Hayani (OH)

  • Rhonda Hines (MI)

  • Aleksa Andjelkovic (MI)

  • Sister Nadine Buchanan (OH)

  • Caitlin Miller (OH)

  • Sally Popa (OH)

Individual of the Year:

These non-survivors have been called to help with the issue, whether it be through their job, or writing a book or creating a program.

  • Lennie Alcorn (MI)

  • Lynn Stevens (OH)

  • Katie Bush (OH)

  • Vivian Walczesky (MI)

  • Dr. Celia Williamson (OH)

  • Lindsay Fischer (OH)

  • Kim Hogan (OH)

  • Mindy Kuebler (OH)

  • Jenn Amo (MI)

  • Lisa Haba (FL)

Business of the Year:

Survivors need jobs to live a fulfilled life. Business’ work with survivors to employ them, they sell products to help give back to other human trafficking organizations, and they go above and beyond to raise awareness through their own business’.

  • TARTA (OH)

  • WAR- Women At Risk International (MI)

  • Freedom ala Cart (OH)

  • Lexis Nexis

Organization of the Year:

They have seen the problem up close and personal and felt a call to open a house, create a chapter, put survivors to work and more.

  • Gracehaven (OH)

  • She Has a Name- SHAN (OH)

  • Survivor’s Ink (OH)

  • MAP- Michigan Abolitionist Project

  • Rahab’s Heart (OH)

  • Hope Project (MI)

  • Doma International (OH)

  • Soroptimist International

  • Truckers Against Trafficking

  • New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJ)

Student/Student Organization of the Year:

  • Bowling Green High School Theatre Group (OH)

  • Dawn Heideman- Be the One

  • Nora Riggs (OH)

  • Woodhaven High School Theatre Group (MI)

  • Reynoldsburg High school Human Trafficking Coalition (OH)

  • Grand Valley State University- IJM (MI)

  • Megan Gallagher- OU End Slavery Movement (OH)

  • Columbus City Schools- Stories behind their eyes (OH)

  • Sarah More (NJ)

Public Servant of the Year (includes elected officials, law enforcement, etc. )

Laws are what keep us safe. With human trafficking being the 2nd leading crime in the US, we need strong laws to protect our human rights. From developing bills, to passing them into legislation and then enforcing them, this is a critical part of the fight.

  • Michigan State Trooper Mary Kapp (MI)

  • FBI Advocate Christina Conrad (OH)

  • Judge Marilyn Cassidy (OH)

  • US Senator Rob Portman (OH)

  • Michigan State Trooper Tressa Duffin (MI)

  • Detective Aaron Dennis (OH)

  • Ed Price (MI)

  • Peter Swartz (OH)

  • Ohio Representative Teresa Fedor

  • Bazzel Baz (CO)

  • Dana Hess (OH)

Survivor of the Year:

Healing from the abuse and trauma is a lifelong journey. But this person has gone above and beyond their trauma to make a difference in the works. They have walked besides other survivors, found their voices and are kicking….!

  • Leslie King. (MI)

  • Harold D’Souza (OH)

  • Jeanette Bradley (OH)

  • Devaun Chandler  (MI)

  • Chrissy Hemphill (MI)

  • Michelle Moore (OH)

  • Toshia Kimbler (OH)

  • Gina Cavallo (NJ)

  • Suleman Massod (DC)

  • Tammy Bitanga (HI)