Stolenyouth

StolenYouth is a Seattle-based 501c3 non-profit with a mission to end child sex trafficking in Washington state. Founded in 2012, StolenYouth has been the leading organization raising awareness of child sex trafficking and granting funds to front-line organizations who provide prevention and support services. Our approach is to prevent child sex trafficking before it happens, connect victims to resources and services, and empower survivors to live positive and productive lives. There are estimated to be at least 500 children and youth (under age 24) trafficked each year in Seattle alone. Child sex trafficking, defined by the Department of Justice, “refers to the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a minor for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” Seattle's ongoing challenges with public safety are inextricably linked to the exploitation of children in the sex trade. This exploitation thrives on racism and inequality, as evidenced by the fact that 56% of trafficked youth in King County are children of color, while 73% of buyers are white. Efforts to tackle the intersecting issues of homelessness, addiction, and racial disparities that leave youth vulnerable underscore StolenYouth’s efforts to ensure that no child is bought or sold for sex. Since its founding, StolenYouth has raised over $11 million in the work to end child sex trafficking, providing grants to our coalition of service providers, supporting prevention services, intervention in schools and hospitals, safe housing, job training and emergency assistance, to name a few of the investments it has made. StolenYouth has also funded and developed innovative technology, including chat bots targeting child sex buyers, and Project SugarFree, a Fast Company “World Changing Idea” winner. StolenYouth is the only organization in the Seattle area focused exclusively on ending child sex trafficking across Washington state.