LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Kelly Hill choked back tears as she accepted the prestigious Ten Outstanding Young American's (TOYA) Award honoring America's best, brightest and most inspirational leaders. "I never, ever imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be here receiving the same award as so many presidents," said Hill. Past honorees include: presidents John F Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon; celebrities including Elvis Presley, David Copperfield, and actors Christopher Reeve, Andrew Shue, and Orson Wells; Howard Hughes and Nelson Rockefeller.
Hill has come a long way since she escaped the sex industry and turned her life around. Lured into the sex industry at age 16, she was trapped for seven years battling severe depression, suicide, drug addiction, and overdose. Hill used her personal experience to prevent thousands of children from being used for child pornography and prostitution and to empower hundreds of victims to rebuild their lives.
Her personal experience and work has introduced her to people such as Queen Silvia of Sweden, Her Royal Highness Princess Takamodo of Japan, Martin Luther King Jr., III, Mary J. Blige, U.S. Congressmen and State Senators.
Hill is the Founder and Special Advisor of Sisters Offering Support (SOS), a nonprofit organization based in Hawaii and now in Los Angeles, that works to stop commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of women and children by preventing youth from recruitment into the sex industry and empowering victims to escape this abuse and achieve their dreams for a better life.
"Kelly is helping thousands of women and teens escape prostitution and domestic violence by giving them the support and the options they need to achieve their dreams for a better life," said actor, Andrew Shue, whose Do Something organization, with Rolling Stone Magazine, recently named Hill as America's Best Young Community Leader. "Kelly is a powerful example of how each of us can turn adversity into strength and dedicate ourselves to helping people in need."
The award ceremony was held June 29, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by The U.S. Junior Chamber Of Commerce with Honorary Chairman, Ted Waitt, Gateway Chairman and CEO.
Begun in 1938, the annual Ten Outstanding Young Americans Awards Program recognizes young people who are the best, brightest, and most inspirational leaders America has to offer.
Hill's efforts through SOS have resulted in 85 percent of her clients escaping and remaining free from prostitution and domestic violence. She has personally helped over 50 women and children escape CSE and entirely rebuild their lives, prevented more than 3,000 girls and boys from being victimized by sexual exploitation, and her legislative advocacy helped create three state laws providing additional rights and new protections for victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).
Kelly Hill feels blessed and humbled to receive the award. "I believe the most powerful tool for change is to inspire others by leading by example. I hope that people look at me and hear my story and know that no matter what adversity you are facing, you can be anything, do anything and achieve anything you put your mind to. If I can do it and come this far -- anyone can."
Commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in our nation and community is the least recognized form of child abuse, and the most extreme form of domestic violence impacting the community, families and individuals. Thousands of vulnerable, homeless, and runaway children and youth become victims of juvenile prostitution, pornography and trafficking each year. There are an estimated 300,000 - 600,000 children involved in commercial sexual exploitation annually in the United States (See Note 1).
Hill collaborates with a number of private and public agencies to provide empowering model programs for women and children so they can return to school, obtain a job, and build a better life. She specializes in conducting training on commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) nationally and has developed seven peer-based prevention and intervention programs that are being replicated throughout North America and worldwide.
Hill has resided in Honolulu, Hawaii for the past seven years and has recently relocated to Los Angeles, California.
Note 1: Dr. Richard Estes, University of Pennsylvania-School of Social Work, presented an overview of his findings in his study on CSEC, which was contracted by the National Institute of Justice (U.S. Dept. of Justice). March 16, 2001