A while back, Jason Arcemont and his family sat in church on a normal day with nothing different about it. Love146, our beneficiary, came to their church that day and spoke on the horrors and the truths of child slavery in our local community. As an attentive father, loving husband and avid runner, suddenly his ambition to run the impossible and his passion to serve collided. He learned that 300,000 children are enslaved for prostitution annually in the US (US Department of Justice), and that his hometown of Houston notoriously stands as a major hub for human trafficking. He thought long and hard about ways to make a difference; to spread the word and wake people up so that maybe – just maybe – he could set off a chain reaction that would cripple the sex slave industry.
“It only takes a tiny spark to start a wildfire,” says Jason. “We want to get people talking. Get them informed. Tell them what to look for, and who to go to for help. In Texas, we pride ourselves on being free. If every Texan was aware and on the lookout for signs of abuse and human trafficking, these criminals would be out of business and on the run, and that’s exactly what we’re going for.”
Thus, Texas Freedom Run was born. As a serial entrepreneur and eccentrically charged runner, Jason envisioned that he could run across Texas, hitting every major city and network with the local media to kindle a grassroots movement against sex slavery.
“Even if we only save one little girl,” Jason says, “just one little girl from the hands of these monsters, then we’ll have done a truly great thing.”
Texas Freedom Run is a campaign of Urban Link, Inc. a non-profit 501 (c) (3) Federal Tax ID# 03-0413694, to raise awareness against human trafficking. All donations made to this campaign will be distributed to Love146.
At the heart of this race across Texas lies a passion to see the end of human trafficking.
Read more about the reason for this run >>
Statewide, taking action can make all the difference.
Get involved in Texas Freedom Run now >>
See our current sponsors and specifics on supporting the cause.
Be a generous sponsor of Texas Freedom Run today >>
Get to know the key members of this campaign.
Learn more about Love146, our campaign’s benefactor.
Make your contribution to ending child slavery.
Texas Freedom Run is a campaign of Urban Link, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) Federal Tax ID# 03-0413694, to raise awareness against human trafficking. All donations made to this campaign will be distributed to Love146.
No matter who you are, where you are, or what your resources are–you CAN and WILL make a difference!
The possibilities are endless. By helping Texas Freedom Run, you become a part of the great family of TXFR supporters and action takers in this fight against slavery. First, sign up for our email list to get updates on projects, events, and downloadable materials which you can distribute at work, school, the gym, church, etc. Here are just a few of the ways how you can come alongside our team and join the fight:
By supporting this campaign financially in a donation of $50 or more, you’ll receive your very own commemorative TXFR book showcasing photography from Jason’s travels this October. With a display of Texas’ landscape, it’s people and its vast freedom, you’ll have this gift for your support in the fight against child slavery. All donations are tax deductible, because we’ve partnered with Love146, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Once donating your $50 or more, you’ll receive an email confirming your donation with details regarding book production and delivery.
Besides being a vital cause that will impact the lives of hundreds – if not thousands – for the better, Texas Freedom Run offers your brand the chance to define itself as a force for good. All contributions are tax deductible through our partnership with Love146, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
Love146 is an international human rights organization working to end child trafficking and exploitation by caring for survivors, providing prevention education to children, training professionals working with exploited youth and empowering an international movement of abolition. Since 2002, Love146 has worked towards a sustainable, long-term and holistic approach to the problem of child trafficking and exploitation, caring for children throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. For more information, please visit www.Love146.org.
Texas Freedom Run is a campaign of Urban Link, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) Federal Tax ID# 03-0413694, to raise awareness against human trafficking. Donations made to this campaign will be distributed to Love146.
Mail to:
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428
Whether you’re a philanthropist who’d like to donate*, a journalist who would like to cover a truly relevant story, a brand who would like to sponsor, or an advocate who would like to help get the word out, you can get involved! Even just sharing this website on Facebook is helpful!
At each city Jason runs through, we’ll be organizing a greeting party to meet Jason as he arrives. These events will help us give newspapers, radio stations, and TV journalists the opportunity to cover the growing sex slavery crisis in a fresh and moving way. It will also give you and your friends the opportunity be part of the growing movement to stand up for victims and decry the travesty of human trafficking.
Please sign up to our email newsletter for regular updates on events and ways you can get involved. If you’re a journalist, please subscribe to receive our press releases.
*Texas Freedom Run is a campaign of Urban Link, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) Federal Tax ID# 03-0413694, to raise awareness against human trafficking. All donations made to this campaign will be distributed to Love146.
Houston Lifestyle & Homes: Running to Raise Awareness Read the original article here » October 1, 2014 8:55PM Houstonian to run 850 miles across Texas to highlight human trafficking Jason Arcemont, a Houston-based family man and entrepreneur in the marketing and advertising industry, will run 850 miles from El Paso to Orange with not one […]
Houston Chronicle: Father of four runs across Texas to end child trafficking Read the original article here » October 10, 2014 12:32PM – BY AMBER ELLIOTT – Jason Arcemont and his family went to church at Salem Lutheran in Tomball one Sunday last summer. “It was just another day at church,” he says. Until he […]
Jason Arcemont is a creative entrepreneur, dedicated family man and major athlete. He has participated in countless marathons, races and daily neighborhood jogging routines. With his need for speed balanced with his heavy heart for the shocking number of enslaved children in The Lone Star State, Jason has found a way to unite these interests. Thus, Texas Freedom Run is born.
Jason serves as the owner of BrightBox, Inc, a Houston-based brand marketing firm. From juggling the demands of the office with his role at home as husband and father, Jason strives to fill his life with ways to give back and help support his Houston home and Texas at large. Through his involvement with Tomball’s Resale with a Purpose and several other areas of interest, Jason is an all-around team player. He leads through service and serves others by showing them what a true leader looks like. By his example and discipline, he hopes to ignite a fire across Texas for cultural reform in combating child sex slavery and trafficking in Texas.
Jason’s vision is set out with his wife Amber and supported by their four children: Cory, Nina, Katelynn and Dakota. Both his family and his campaign team support him in this endeavor, realizing the weight of this issue and the steps necessary to change it. Jason is continually thankful for the gift of support and financial donation from all his fellow Texans.
Brian Hutson serves as Campaign Manager of Texas Freedom Run. With a heart for this cause and past philanthropic experience in combating human trafficking, Brian hopes to play whatever role he can in revolutionizing how Americans view this terror.
He currently works at BrightBox, Inc. as its Production Manager, overseeing the wide array of design and development for their clients. Supported by his family and friends, Brian thrives on filling his schedule to the brim and giving his time to this campaign and Jason’s vision for what it can become.
From scheduling awareness and fundraising events to tying together social media efforts, Brian stands alongside Jason, supportive and encouraging to his daily efforts. He is dedicated to the purpose of this campaign, to the mission of Love146 and honored to be a part of this much needed public service.
Amber Arcemont was there at the conception of Texas Freedom Run while discovering just how horrific this “hidden monster” was at church one day not so long ago. As co-founder of this endeavor with her husband, Jason, she supports the same vision to see child slavery abolished in the great Lone Star State, and the world at large.
As dedicated wife, mother of four and a general workaholic, Amber works tirelessly to push the fundraising efforts and support media connections within the scope of this campaign. She takes large steps to bring results each step of the way so that Texas Freedom Run can make the greatest impact.
With a generous heart and an eagerness to take action, Amber takes an honorable and much needed background role in being the hands and feet of this campaign. From bringing in sponsorships through her own fundraising team to making media connections along the way for radio spots and TV opportunities, Amber gives her whole heart to this cause. She aims for meaningful results that will change the lives of abused and captive children in our very own community.
Our local contacts have been Kristian Love (Love146 Texas Director of Operations) and Kylie Abegg. Both of which have poured lots of their time into including our team and equipping us to join them in their efforts.
Love146 is an international human rights organization working to end child trafficking and exploitation through survivor care, prevention education, professional training and empowering movement. Slavery is still one of the darkest stories on our planet. But for us, the hope of abolition is a reality. Love146 believes in helping grow the movement of abolition while providing effective, thoughtful solutions. We believe in the power of Love and its ability to affect sustainable change. Love is the foundation of our motivation.
Texas Freedom Run couldn’t make the impact it has and will continue to make without the donation of time, money and skills from so many others. On behalf of the entire campaign, we thank all of our sponsors and partners who have helped elevate this campaign to heights we could not attain by ourselves.
The PR Boutique, led by Karen Henry, leads all of Texas Freedom Run’s public relations and media efforts.
Clear Channel with iHeart Media have donated lengthy and much appreciated airtime to promote the run through public service announcements.
Action Time, a startup business supporting the efforts of Love146, has partnered with us to promote this campaign as well.
Many individuals like Mark Dimas (of Professional Realty Group) and Beth Younger Purpich (Julie Beth Handbags) have helped bring in large donations and host events that raise both awareness and funds in the fight against slavery in Texas. Sole supporters like Gregg Wiley have donated all of Jason’s shoes throughout October.
During the actual month of Jason’s journey, many supporters will be having close aid in helping him through the 850 miles along with facilitating events, fundraising efforts, etc. Among these, Russell Hutson and Ross Saxon have donated their time to drive throughout the month of October along Jason’s route. Eric Setter, photographer, will also join in capturing the entire journey to later fill the pages of our commemorative TXFR book (which all can have with a $50 donation for Love146).
These and so many others continue to support Texas Freedom Run boldly and proudly under the common interest to end child slavery in Texas. We are grateful and humbled by their aid and dedicated passion we share.
Donations made to Urban Link, Inc. a non-profit 501 (c) (3) Federal Tax ID# 03-0413694
Mail to:
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428
