SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is a nonprofit organization created by the Florida Legislature to provide funding, support and assistance to the statewide effort to end human trafficking.

Human Trafficking is a crisis within the United States

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Human trafficking (or modern-day slavery) is the second-largest global industry – behind illegal drug trafficking – and enslaves tens of millions of women, children, and men worldwide. It can happen in any community and victims can be of any age, race, gender, or nationality.

Oftentimes human trafficking is perceived as an international issue rather than a problem within the United States.  However, according to the National Trafficking Hotline, it becomes clear that there is a national crisis at hand.

We must bring attention to the problem of human trafficking within the state of Florida.

Victims Identified

Traffickers Identified

Trafficking Businesses

Locations of Trafficking

Some cases may involve multiple locations.

Communication to
the National Hotline

Phone Calls:

1,709

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Webforms

109

Emails

120

Texts

463

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Webchats

57

OUR HISTORY OF ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking was created by the Florida Legislature in 2019 (HB 851) and was approved by the Governor on June 26, 2019. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Lauren Book and Representative Heather Fitzenhagen.

The legislation addressed human trafficking through a wide range of policies. It required the Department of Legal Affairs to establish a direct support organization (DSO) to support the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. The DSO board of directors must be thirteen members, including:

  • Two members appointed by the executive director of FDLE, both of whom must have experience and knowledge in the area of human trafficking.
  • Three members appointed by the Attorney General
  • One of whom must be a human trafficking survivor.
  • One of whom must be a mental health expert.
  • Four members appointed by the President of the Senate.
  • Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Our Leadership

Toni Azinger

Philanthropist

Toni Azinger

Toni Houston Azinger is a native of Blackshear, GA and a forty year resident of Florida. She is an Art Education graduate of Florida State University. Mrs. Azinger was a 30 year member of the PGA Tour Wives Association. She currently serves as a founding co-chair for Women of Compassion (under the umbrella of One More Child), an anti-trafficking initiative and advocacy group for underprivileged children of Florida. Toni and her husband Paul reside in Bradenton, FL near their daughters Josie (son-in-law Sebastian) and Sarah Jean (son-in-law Tim). They are the proud grandparents of Campbell and Houston.

Robyn Metcalf Blank

Director of Special Projects

Robyn Metcalf Blank

Robyn serves as the Director of Special Projects for the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, a nonprofit organization created by the Florida Legislature to provide funding, support and assistance to the statewide effort to end human trafficking. Robyn has over a decade of experience advocating and developing solutions to improve outcomes for Florida’s most vulnerable children. Prior to this role, Robyn served as the Statewide Director for the Open Doors Outreach Network, providing 24/7 care and support to survivors of sex trafficking ages 10-24 throughout the state. She also served as the Associate Executive Director for the American Children’s Campaign, advocating for policy change on behalf of children in Florida.

Robyn currently serves as a board member on the board of directors for the National Florida State University (FSU) Alumni Association and Healthy Start MomCare Network. She has held various volunteer roles with the Junior League of Tallahassee, Guardian Ad Litem and Relay for Life and previously served on the FSU College of Social Work Alumni Group board of directors.

Robyn received her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Masters of Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in Social Policy and Administration and Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from FSU. She was named a 2020 Notable Nole (formerly 30 Under 30) from the FSU Alumni Association and in 2016 she received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from the FSU College of Social Work.

Originally from Sarasota, FL, Robyn resides in Tallahassee with her husband Michael and her dog Hoyt.

Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff

Chair – Becker

Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff

Senator Bogdanoff joined Becker after serving over six years as a Member of the Florida House of Representatives and two years as a Florida State Senator.

She also has over 30 years in the business sector, owning her first insurance business by the age of 21 and, after 16 years, selling her interest in her company. In 1997, she opened a corporate and local government consulting firm. Senator Bogdanoff later attended law school, graduating in 2003. She began her legal career as a litigator and is currently a Certified Circuit Civil and Family Mediator.

After leaving public office in 2012, Senator Bogdanoff expanded her practice to include government consulting in Tallahassee. Her knowledge, experience, and access to key decision makers are extremely valuable to her clients.

Erin M. Collins

Executive Director

Erin M. Collins

Erin Collins has served as the Executive Director since October 2019.

Erin has nearly two decades of experience in advocacy, communications and public policy. She previously served in the administrations of Governor Ron DeSantis and Governor Rick Scott. Prior to her role in state government, she served as a consultant with National Strategies, a state and local government consulting firm, assisting clients with business development and procurement-related activities. Erin also held various positions with Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog.

Erin is a past statewide chair of the Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee and currently serves on its Board of Directors. She is a Sustainer member of the Junior League of Tallahassee, having served in various leadership roles over the last ten years. She is an active member of Florida Blue Key, Capital Area Gator Club and Leadership Tallahassee Class 39.

Erin was born in Boston, MA and was raised in Jupiter, Florida. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication from the University of Florida.

She resides in Tallahassee, FL with her husband and two step-daughters.

Allison Kinney

Vice President of Government Relations for HCA Healthcare Florida

Allison Kinney

Allison Kinney is the Vice President of Government Relations for HCA Healthcare Florida.

Previously, Ms. Kinney was a senior director with Charter Communications, vice president and director of government relations for OneMain Financial, vice president of state government relations for TD Bank and assistant vice president of government relations for the Florida Bankers Association.

She volunteers with the Children’s Home Society of Florida and serves on the board of Associated Industries of Florida and CareerSource Florida.
Ms. Kinney earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Auburn University. She lives in Tallahassee with her husband, Robbie, and two children, Anna Pace and Carson.

Graci McGillicuddy

Philanthropist

Graci McGillicuddy

Graci McGillicuddy is a founding member and chairperson of the All Star Children’s Foundation, established in 2005. The foundation created and supports the All Star Children’s “Campus of Hope & Healing,” which was developed in collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to provide trauma-focused clinical services for children victimized by abuse. Mrs. McGillicuddy has served as both a Board Chair and Board Member of the Child Protection Center of Sarasota since 1987. In 2004, she was appointed by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative. In 2008, she was appointed by former Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention and Permanency Advisory Council and was reappointed in 2009.

Graci has been the recipient of many awards including the Florida Senate’s “Spirit of Service” Award in 2009, this is the highest honor bestowed on civilians by the Florida Senate. This award was created to recognize Florida’s “unsung heroes” those who, through their acts of service, preserve America’s long-standing tradition and commitment to volunteerism and make Florida a better place.

Matt Mohler

Florida Power & Light Company

Matt Mohler

Matt Mohler is an External Affairs Special Projects Manager for Florida Power and Light Company. Prior to joining FPL in early 2021, Matt spent 15 years as a political consultant working for candidates in local, multicounty, and statewide races mostly in Florida. Matt’s interests include watching his children participate in extracurricular activities, playing his banjo, and spending time with his best friend, Rachel. He is the former Co-Founder of the Young Republican Club of Indian River County, former Vice President of the Indian River County Historical Society, and identifies as a Teddy Roosevelt Conservationist. Matt is a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church where he has served as a catechist, and he closely follows the Franciscan Contemplative Prayer movement.

Savannah Parvu

Treasurer - Survivor Leader and Speaker

Savannah Parvu

Savannah has a passion for writing and speaking about the Hope she has found after many years of abuse. She is involved in Survivor Leadership through active prevention and awareness activities. She routinely shares her experiences with the public to grow knowledge of the tragic issue of familial trafficking within the commercial sex trafficking arena. She is a nationally recognized speaker on the subject, and has won awards from anti-human trafficking organizations for her efforts. Savannah has recently become one of the foremost voices on human trafficking at the State Capitol. She has lived a life of abuse and she refuses to sit back and continue to be a victim. The wounds from her past are being healed and it’s her desire to be a voice for the voiceless.

Special Agent in Charge Shane Pollard

Assistant Commissioner

Special Agent in Charge Shane Pollard

Vaden “Shane” Pollard was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Investigations and Forensic Science on September 15, 2022 and oversees overall management and policy direction for investigative and forensic services statewide as well as the statewide FDLE Regional Operations Centers.

Assistant Commissioner Pollard is a 26-year veteran of Florida law enforcement. During his tenure as a law enforcement professional he has served in the capacity of patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant and most recently as the Special Agent in Charge of the Fort Myers Regional Operations Center.

Assistant Commissioner Pollard joined FDLE in 2005 as a special agent assigned to the Sebring Field Office where he was the lead agent in numerous investigations involving public integrity, fraud, money laundering and violent crime. In 2012, he was promoted to Resident Agent in Charge of the Sebring Field Office. He transferred to the Fort Myers Regional Operations Center in 2013 where he supervised the Organized Crime and Intelligence squads. In 2015, he was named the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FMROC, and then Special Agent in Charge in 2016. Prior to his career in law enforcement, Assistant Commissioner Pollard served in the United States Marine Corps.

Assistant Commissioner Pollard has been actively involved in training law enforcement officers for more than 20 years. He has received several law enforcement and military awards and commendations; though he’s most fond of the Hero of Advocacy award he received after making arrests in a public integrity case. He is a graduate of the FDLE Chief Executive Seminar and the FBI Florida Executive Development Seminar.

Assistant Commissioner Pollard holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Warner University. He is married to Linda and they have two children.

Stephanie Smith

Stephanie Smith

Prior to joining Anthem, Stephanie was the Senior Public Policy Manager at Uber Florida, Carolinas & DMV. For several years, she was the Public Affairs Director for AT&T Florida & Georgia. Stephanie also served as Executive Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of External Affairs for Governor Charlie Crist. Smith’s government experience also includes employment as a Special Events Coordinator for Governor Jeb Bush and a Business Development Liaison in the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. Stephanie is a member of the Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates Board of Directors, the YWCA Greater Miami Dade Board of Directors and the CareerSource FL Board of Directors. Smith is a graduate of The Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Dr. Philip Toal

Secretary - Aspire Health Partners

Dr. Philip Toal

Philip O. Toal graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Sexology from The Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. He is a Florida State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and sex therapist and has worked in the area of behavioral health care and substance abuse for over 40 years. Philip’s work has included stress management, pain management and biofeedback, behavioral medicine, psychoneuroimmunology, depression, HIV/AIDS; sex therapy, LGBTQ issues, mental health and substance use disorders. He has worked with human trafficking survivors and provides training on a local, state and national level. He has developed and conducted stress management for an inpatient cardiac and oncology units. His work using relaxation and imagery with AIDS patients has been widely recognized. Philip has presented at several international behavioral medicine conferences and has contributed chapters to two books for professionals. He has worked with the Central Florida AIDS community since 1983.. He is an adjunct Professor at Valencia College in the areas of Sex Therapy and Substance Abuse Disorders. Philip is the Senior Vice-President of Residential Services for Aspire Health, the largest Behavioral Health Care Provider in the Southeast.

Retired Corporal Alan Wilkett

Vice Chair

Retired Corporal Alan Wilkett

Corporal Alan Wilkett has served with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office since 2005 with a total law enforcement experience of over 24 years. Patrol, court security, investigations, crime prevention, and community relations are among the assignments fulfilled in the years of service. In 2007 he was awarded the Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year. Corporal Wilkett holds a Florida Practitioner Designation in both crime prevention and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).

Corporal Wilkett has devoted the past several years in the fight against human trafficking. He has trained and instructed law enforcement, federal agencies, state and local agencies, NGO’s, along with multiple groups, churches, and organizations. The Pasco Human Trafficking Task Force, the Human Trafficking Commission, and Light Up The Night are current initiatives. Corporal Wilkett was recently awarded the 2017 Florida Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Official of the Year from Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Individual Sponsorship Opportunities

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

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