Polaris,
a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery and restore
freedom to survivors, today announced it elected Suzanne
Grimes, president and COO, Clear Channel Outdoor-North
America to its Board of Directors for a one year term beginning July 11,
2014.
Suzanne Grimes making remarks in Houston at announcement of Texas statewide anti-human trafficking campaign (Photo: Business Wire)
Human trafficking is a thriving criminal industry, with traffickers
making billions in profits by using force, fraud, or coercion to rob
victims of their freedom. The International Labor Organization estimates
that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. The
National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, operated by Polaris,
received reports of 5,214 cases of human trafficking in 2013 (read more
2013 statistics here).
The hotline is a lifeline for victims of modern slavery and a resource
for community members to provide tips and request information.
"Polaris is excited to welcome Suzanne to our Board of Directors, where
her expertise will be indispensable," said Bradley Myles, CEO of
Polaris. "With Suzanne at the helm, Clear Channel Outdoor continues to
make enormous contributions to the fight against modern slavery. Suzanne
shares our passion to help people understand the issue and is using her
voice and the media she commands to help. From donating billboard and
poster inventory in numerous cities to providing invaluable insight into
targeted awareness campaigns, Suzanne's impact demonstrates what can be
accomplished when companies take proactive steps to combat this crime.”
Clear Channel Outdoor launched its first anti-human trafficking campaign
alongside Polaris in Philadelphia in 2012 and has since supported
targeted campaigns in Baltimore, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami,
Milwaukee, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and
recently a statewide campaign in Texas in conjunction with Polaris, the
FBI, United Against Human Trafficking, and Governor Rick Perry. Grimes
has ensured Clear Channel Outdoor teams across the country have fully
leveraged CCO’s diverse portfolio to make a difference in communities
where trafficking is a serious problem.
"I am excited to embrace my new role as a Polaris board member,” said
Grimes. “Polaris’ team is giving victims hope for a better life by
showing that there is a way out, and they are on the front lines
bringing traffickers to justice by providing vital information to law
enforcement agencies working to combat this tragic crime. My goal is to
significantly raise the profile of this crime by creating a greater
sense of awareness that supports victims seeking help while driving
concerned citizens and socially responsible companies to join the fight.”
About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., (NYSE:CCO) is one of the world’s
largest outdoor advertising companies, with more than 675,000 displays
in over 40 countries across five continents, including 47 of the 50
largest markets in the United States. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings
offers many types of displays across its global platform to meet the
advertising needs of its customers. This includes a growing digital
platform that now offers over 1,000 digital billboards across 39 U.S.
markets. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings’ International segment operates
in nearly 30 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America
in a wide variety of formats. More information is available at www.clearchanneloutdoor.com.
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/CCOutdoor
Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CCOutdoorNA
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140728005460/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2014