Events September 1, 2024

25th Anniversary Gala: 25 Years of Impact in LA

Written By castla

September 17, 2024 7:00 pm at Cooper Design Space, Downtown Los Angeles, California

For two and a half decades, Cast has made a reverberating impact here at home and across the globe, touching the lives of survivors, their families, and entire communities. Celebrate with us at this signature event, recognizing and honoring a select group of change agents representing a diverse community of businesses, government, faith-based and civic leaders who have committed themselves, together with survivors, in the unyielding fight to end modern slavery in our region.

This year marks our 25th celebration, and we’re going all out! Join us on September 17th, 2024, as we honor trailblazing industry leaders and partners for their relentless dedication and innovative efforts in combatting human trafficking. Our 250 guests will gain insight into the leadership and industries that have led the charge of anti-trafficking efforts for the past 25 years.

For sponsorship information, please contact Melissa Fuentes, Individual Giving Manager, at mfuentes@castla.org or (213) 839-3004.

Become a Sponsor Sponsorship Deck Individual Tickets

Jessica Sarowit

Managing Partner, 4S Bay Partners

Impact Media Award

Sr. Maria Rosa Leggol’s legacy lives on in philanthropist and filmmaker, Jessica Sarowitz’ groundbreaking film, With this Light, illuminating a model of impactful leadership that the world needs now more than ever to prevent threats like human trafficking.

Sr. Maria Rosa Leggol

Franciscan religious “Mother Teresa of Honduras.”

In Memoriam, Impact Media Award

Fondly known as SOR, Sr. Maria Rosa Leggol was a beacon of hope for children in her homeland of Honduras. Her tireless efforts in building safe communities for vulnerable children provided them with more than a loving home and quality education; she protected them from exploitation and abuse that was increasingly prevalent around them.

Romeo Mendoza

Survivor

Courage Award

Romeo’s remarkable resilience and determination, alongside his legal team, exemplify courage in the face of adversity. Recruited with others from his small town in Guatemala to work in a Southern California strawberry farm, Romeo was promised a good job when he came to the US on a temporary agricultural worker visa. His hope turned to terror when he learned he owed the traffickers money and they threatened to hurt him and his family back home. Traffickers forced him to stay silent and lie about their working conditions when labor officials visited the farm, but the officials separated the workers from the traffickers and called Cast. Romeo was reunited with his family and received an array of trauma-informed services, including immigration status and work authorization. Romeo courageously informed Cast about his experience. Our dedicated impact civil litigation unit, dedicated to investigating and litigating corporate entities engaged in trafficking communities throughout California in an effort to hold these companies accountable, fight for workers’ human rights, and put a stop to this exploitation.

Stasia Washington

Managing Director, Lido Advisors

Founders Leadership Award

As the Managing Director at Lido Advisors Inc, Stasia Washington boasts over 25 years of comprehensive experience in non-legal trust services. However, her true distinction lies in her unwavering commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of survivors. This commitment is deeply rooted in personal experience, sparked by the harrowing story of a daughter’s friend who fell victim to sex trafficking. Stasia’s courageous response to this revelation was swift and resolute. Over the past 8 years, she has forged an indomitable bond with Cast cementing her status as a pivotal figure in the organization’s journey. Stasia Washington’s support for Cast has been nothing short of exemplary. From her earliest days as an advocate to her tenure as a board member, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership. Her dedication has not only furnished Cast with crucial resources but has also imbued its mission with profound depth and resilience. Through her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to justice, Stasia has propelled Cast to unprecedented heights. Her tireless efforts ensure that the organization’s impact in combating human trafficking continues to expand, setting a standard for excellence in advocacy and activism.

Rob Bonta

Attorney General of California

Butch Schuman Human Rights Defender Award

Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assembly Member Mia Bonta stand as formidable champions in the ongoing battle against human trafficking, embodying unwavering integrity and a relentless dedication to justice over the years. Their tireless advocacy for criminal reform, particularly in spearheading vacatur laws for survivors, not only brings vital attention to systemic issues within the legal framework but also drives tangible progress in the fight for human rights. Assembly member Bonta’s steadfast support to the Trafficking Research and analysis to Counter Exploitation (TRACE) study represents a pivotal advancement in evidence-based research regarding the prevalence of human trafficking within California. This study promises to provide invaluable insights that will shape policies aimed at dismantling the systems of oppression that perpetuate human trafficking. Together, Attorney General and Assembly member Bonta bolster Cast’s mission with their unparalleled expertise, steadfast leadership, and resolute determination to address the underlying causes of human trafficking head-on. Their unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a world free from exploitation and injustice.

Mia Bonta

Assemblymember, District 18

Butch Schuman Human Rights Defender Award

HONORARY HOST CHAIRS

Kate Bosworth & Justin Long

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chloe Flower
Shay Mitchell
City Council President Paul Krekorian
Councilmember Nithya Raman
LA City Controller Wendy Greuel
Aileen Adams
Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali
Geoffrey Conway
Giselle Fernandez
Liliana Perez, Los Angeles Chargers
Michael Washington
Sam Doumit
Thomas J. Blumenthal, Geary’s
Winn Claybaugh

GALA PLANNING COMMITTEE

Sr. Anncarla Costello, SND
Bonnie Abaunza
Charity Morsey
Emily Williams
Gerrick Pickering
Kelleigh Strobel
Molly Rhodes
Steve Hirsh
Tay Nevill
Vera Campbell

25th Anniversary Gala: 25 Years of Impact in LA