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Supporters of Amilia's Light participated in a golf tournament at Foxborough Country Club on August 14 to raise funds that will help survivors of human trafficking.
New England Patriots Hall of Famer, QB Steve Grogan, was one of the participating golfers. Prior to the event, Grogan and Amilia's Light founder, Michelle Luhrmann, were interviewed by Dan Rea on Nightside, a radio program on WBZ 1030, during which Steve said: "It's a great cause, trying to grow. I thought it would be a great way to learn more about what they're doing."
Left to right: Will Sandeman, Steve Grogan, Michelle Lurhmann.
Locally, Amilia's Light raises awareness through community engagement events and is exploring opportunities to provide solutions to empower those exploited in Boston/MetroWest.
The story of Amilia's Light began with the tragic death of 5-year-old Amilia Rose Luhrmann in a home explosion on May 24, 2003.
With funds that were donated to the Luhrmann family in Amilia's name, bequests were made to different organizations helping children in the Boston MetroWest area, and also to an NGO (non-governmental agency) in Uganda that ran a program for the rehabilitation of trafficked young women. In 2009/10 the family provided funds to support five young women through this rehabilitation program, which was named after Amilia.
In 2013, Amilia's mother, Michelle, met with some friends on what would have been Amilia's 15th birthday. At this meeting they made plans to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Amilia's death. From this gathering, the idea for a fundraiser reflective of Amilia's bright personality was planted and grew. The fundraiser would be held in May in "Amilia's Garden" at the Luhrmann family home, and the newly formed organization was dubbed "Amilia's Light."
In April of that year, Michelle made her first trip to Uganda to meet the women that her family had sponsored and to evaluate further opportunities for working with Destiny Women.
53 People attended their recent, second annual golf tournament and dinner, and 16 companies - including Steve Grogan's Grogan/Marciano Sporting Goods of Mansfield - sponsored the event.
"Each one of you here today are helping to make Amilia's Light shine, and you're making a positive difference in the lives of people who have suffered very difficult, dark times," said Michelle Luhrmann during the dinner portion of the event. "Thank you, golfers. Thank you, volunteers. Thank you, sponsors, especially Steve Grogan."
To find out more about Amilia's Light, as well as make a donation, visit www.amiliaslight.org.
