Our founder, Shana Pederson, incorporated Life Preservers Project in 2009. Her mission was to bring together people from the arts and legal communities to educate and increase awareness about human trafficking and ultimately provide resources for survivors.

At the time, New York City was the largest port of entry in the country for traffickers, but the City had just one halfway house assisting survivors. Life Preservers’ goal was then and is now to continue give support and a fighting chance to survivors of human trafficking.