The JOY FM/Florida – Team Freedom

With their 8th  year of active participation over the past 10 years, The JOY FM/Florida listeners who make up Team Freedom topped $1,000,000 raised in the fight to end human trafficking. This year’s total giving, $178,222, brought the grand total to $1,097,323, all of which goes to Hope For Justice International, the anti-trafficking organization partner of Team Freedom.

Each year, enthusiastic listeners who care about the cause have laced up to run one of the four races at Tampa’s Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic. Participants came from all over The JOY FM listening area and raised anywhere between the $400 minimum and $25,000. During a pre-run worship rally, Hope for Justice Co-Founder/CEO Tim Nelson expressed the impact Team Freedom has had on the rescue and restoration of victims and the prevention of human slavery. “When we stand shoulder to shoulder; when you run for those people who aren’t able to speak for themselves. . . .I’d love to be able to say on behalf of each one of these victims—when they become survivors—how grateful we are for you.”

Team Freedom was founded by The JOY FM’s Carmen Brown (pictured above on stage), when in 2012 she established a partnership with Curb | Word recording artist Natalie Grant, co-founder of Hope for Justice.