Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Tebow, to speak at Gingerbread House event

Demi-Leigh Tebow has many platforms: Miss Universe 2017, Miss South Africa, philanthropist, and founder of the #Unbreakable Campaign. She lends her vision to the Tim Tebow Foundation.

Following in the footsteps of other powerful women and one man as featured speakers, Tebow brings her message, Oct. 30, to the Gingerbread House Partners in Prevention 2024 Luncheon at Sam's Town.

You can be assured the venue will be crammed with law enforcement officials - district attorneys, mayors, sheriffs, top judges and the cream of Shreveport society - once again waiting to hear stories of survival and how to make a city safe for children and youth in our midst.

"Gingerbread House Children's Advocacy Centers, help children heal from abuse while holding offenders accountable," explained the press release.

"In the 26 years Gingerbread has been in existence, over 16,111 child abuse victims have been directly served by the organization. Prosecution rates have risen from less than 5 percent to over 97 percent successful prosecution," according to top officials, Chief Executive Officer Jessica M. Miller, and Child Life Director Sophia H. Sanders. (Waynette Ballengee is president, the Board of Directors Executive Committee.)

Gingerbread, which serves nine parishes, believes in children, providing a safe space for child victims to find their voice. "Through counseling (they) learn they are survivors of their trauma," said the release. " Prevention programs ... reach over 50,000 children and adults annually in the hopes of preventing abuse in the first place."

Most importantly, all services are offered free to child victims so no child is ever turned away due to a family's inability to pay for the services.

Among other Gingerbread programs are forensic interviews: Trauma-Informed Counseling Services; Anti-Human Trafficking Care.

The press release pointed out that Tebow has a powerful message. "'You are not your label' will provide encouragement to all of us to fight for ourselves and those most vulnerable,'" said Miller and Sanders.

"Inspired by her faith in God and her passion for living a values-driving life, Tebow lends her philanthropic vision to the Tim Tebow Foundation, raising awareness for the fight against human trafficking and supporting children with medical needs," said the biography.

The luncheon kicks off the fall social season and is usually attended by a sellout crowd.

If you go: What Gingerbread House Partners in Prevention 2024 Luncheon

When: Oct. 30. 11:30 a.m., doors open

Admission: $125, individual, must be purchased in advance. No tickets sold at the door.

Where: Sam's Town. Info: 674-2900.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Tebow, to speak at Gingerbread House event