Untrafficked To Receive Community Hero Award

DALLAS, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Untrafficked®, a leading Dallas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to combating child sex trafficking in America, and its founder and Chairman, Eric Colton, SMU Class of 1994, are proud to announce its recognition as the SMU Community Hero of the Year Award. This prestigious award, presented by Southern Methodist University and Origin Bank, celebrates Untrafficked's tireless efforts to educate, empower, and protect at-risk children across the nation.

According to the FBI, there were over 500,000 missing children and over 750,000 sexual predators online that target children in the United States in 2024. Over the past six years, Untrafficked has made significant strides in raising awareness, leading, or supporting numerous rescue cases, and providing scenario-based training programs to numerous communities across America. Locally, Untrafficked was awarded a contract by Dallas ISD to train and equip students' families on how to prevent grooming and trafficking from happening in their homes, neighborhoods, and surrounding communities. Through strategic partnerships and a robust affiliate network, the organization has collaborated with shelters and care facilities that provide critical counseling and restoration services to survivors, helping them rebuild their lives. This honor reflects the dedication of the Untrafficked team and the support of countless volunteers and donors who share the vision of an Untrafficked America.

"We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from Origin Bank and SMU," said Eric Colton, Chairman of the Board and Founder of Untrafficked. "This award is a testament to our collective commitment to disrupting the child trafficking and exploitation ecosystems and safeguarding our children. We remain steadfast in our mission and grateful for the community's support."

"Origin Bank is passionate about enriching the lives of the people within our communities," said Origin Bank North Texas Regional President, Warrie Birdwell. "Helping to protect the vulnerable and at-risk is a core part of our community commitment. We are honored to stand alongside Untrafficked and SMU in shining a light on this critical issue and working together to safeguard children and families in Dallas and beyond."

The SMU Community Hero of the Year award ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the SMU vs. Baylor football game at Ford Stadium. For more information about Untrafficked's work or to support their mission, please visit www.untrafficked.org.

About Untrafficked®

Untrafficked® is a Dallas-based, national anti-child sex trafficking 501(c)(3) organization educating and empowering Americans to speak and act with one voice in defense of at-risk children and children that are survivors of child sex trafficking. Untrafficked® is diverse across political, ethnic and demographic categories maximizes our impact in communities, the media, on campus, in our nation's capital and across the United States. Untrafficked® is committed to confronting indifference and combating child sex trafficking in all its forms wherever it may be found. Untrafficked features its programs in both English and Spanish. Untrafficked's EIN is 85-0894728.

For more information, please visit: www.untrafficked.org

About Origin Bank: 
Origin Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana. Origin's wholly owned bank subsidiary, Origin Bank, was founded in 1912 in Choudrant, Louisiana. Deeply rooted in Origin's history is a culture committed to providing personalized relationship banking to businesses, municipalities, and personal clients to enrich the lives of the people in the communities it serves. Origin provides a broad range of financial services and currently operates more than 55 locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Houston, North Louisiana, Mississippi, South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

For more information, please visit: www.origin.bank

Media Contact: 
Eric Colton
(218) 256-7919
[email protected]

SOURCE Untrafficked