Information session taking place in Marion on Friday

Lina PortmanMay 28, 2024

1 1 minute read

MARION, Va. (WJHL) — A world-renowned organization, the Sentinel Foundation, is hosting a free public information session in Marion, Va., on Friday to help the community identify and prevent human trafficking at the local level.

The event will take place at the historic Lincoln Theater, 117 E Main Street, from 3 to 6 p.m. Although the event is free, reservations can be made and questions can be directed to Billy Evans at (276) 759-8135.

According to the Sentinel Foundation, the nonprofit organization works to educate others about identifying the signs of sex trafficking and helps prevent it by tracking and apprehending traffickers. According to the organization's website, the foundation's members include federal agents, intelligence officers, special forces, military and other law enforcement from different sides.

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The mission statement of the Sentinel Foundation can be found below:

The Sentinel Foundation was founded with one goal in mind: to end the exploitation of minor children around the world. Although this cause is not new, our method of achieving it is. We have the personnel, technology, law enforcement support, and most importantly, the perseverance to complete this mission. The Sentinel Foundation Operations team focuses on targeting elusive child traffickers who use highly skilled methods to find and exploit their victims. Children in underdeveloped and under-resourced countries have virtually no defense against these networks.

SentinelFoundation.org

According to a press release from Marion leaders, the event will bring several key members of the organization to the area to teach the community how to recognize and prevent human trafficking in Southwest Virginia.

“Glenn Devitt and James Guroni co-founded the organization, and this will be their first-ever event in the region to raise awareness about how we can join the fight,” the release said.

The Sentinel Foundation has partnered with many other national organizations such as Samaritan's Purse, Lifesong for Orphans and the Tim Tebow Foundation. Recently, Jason Aldean's wife Brittany raised $500,000 for the Sentinel Foundation to help with their efforts.

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