Áegis Living Employees Support the Somaly Mam Foundation

Online, June 29, 2012 (Newswire.com) - As a young girl Somaly Mam was sold into sex slavery. Somaly heroically escaped her captors but vowed never to forget those left behind and has dedicated her life to saving victims and empowering survivors by creating the Somaly Mam Foundation. With over two million women and children sold into sex slavery each year, human trafficking is a global crisis that must be stopped. More resources are critically needed to support the rescue and rehabilitation of these young victims.

In January 2012 Ãegis Living employees were made aware of the Somaly Mam Foundation during a visit from Susan Sarandon at the company's annual meeting, EPIC. Ms. Sarandon shared her knowledge of the sex slavery crisis and the need for an additional housing facility in Cambodia. Somaly Mam's story had a profound effect on the audience. "Many of our employees approached me after the conversation with Susan and asked how they could get involved," stated Dwayne Clark, founder and CEO of Aegis Living. "I knew that we had to do something to make a difference, which is how we became involved in Lotus House Project." The girls themselves have named it Lotus House because from the muddy and dark waters, a beautiful flower blooms.

Aegis Living employees care for the most frail and vulnerable in our society - the elderly. It is natural for them to step forward to protect another vulnerable group - children. The goal of the Lotus House Project is to build a new house with 24-hour security, emotional resources, a supportive staff and their peers to help heal their wounded memories. This goal will be reached through employee grassroots fundraisers: runs, car washes, t-shirt sales and many other creative events. They are also hoping for assistance from corporate partnerships and donations from the public.

Ãegis Living will host Somaly Mam during her trip to the Seattle area July 20-22. While in Seattle she will tour Aegis Living communities, meet with employees and learn about their efforts to fundraise for Lotus House. She will also participate in fundraising events including a dinner at the home of Dwayne and Terese Clark.

To learn more about the Lotus House Project, donate, or begin your own fundraising event visit http://www.aegisliving.com/lotus-house. You can also find out more about Somaly Mam's journey and her foundation at http://www.somaly.org/.

About The Somaly Mam Foundation
The Somaly Mam Foundation is a nonprofit charity committed to ending modern day slavery in North America and around the world. Co-founded by sexual slavery survivor, Somaly Mam, the Foundation works to eradicate human trafficking, liberate its victims, and empower survivors so they can create and sustain lives of dignity. Our Vision: A world where women and children are safe from slavery. Our Mission: To give victims and survivors a voice in their lives, liberate victims, end slavery, and empower survivors as they create and sustain lives of dignity. The Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 charity in the USA.

About Ãegis Living
Ãegis Living is a national leader in assisted living and memory care, offering a progressive selection of senior residences to meet the growing needs of today's aging population. Providing the finest in senior lifestyle and living options available, "We're the people who make life better" emphasizes health, quality of life, well-being and community. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, privately held Ãegis Living operates 28 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with 5 currently in development. Additional information about Ãegis Living and its services are available at www.AegisLiving.com, Twitter @aegisliving and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AegisLiving
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Media Contact: Jennifer Hall - (425) 861-9993 [email protected]
Aegis Senior Communities, LLC