In 2011, Serinda Swan, star of A&E’s “Breakout Kings,” was introduced to Cause Effect Agency’s work by her friend Shay Mitchell, star of the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars. The previous year Shay had gone to Cambodia with Cause Effect Agency’s founder Chris Talbott to see the work of the Somaly Mam Foundation. Shay contributed her talent by making a series of public service announcements shot and directed by Chris Talbott for the organization. Serinda contacted us and asked us to help make introductions for her so she could see all the amazing work first hand. Learning that we also work with Heifer International, Serinda let us know she’s been a longtime donor, and was excited to visit Heifer projects in Cambodia during her trip.

To experience Heifer’s work, Serinda visited villages in the Svay Chrum district, where she met families whose living conditions have improved through gifts of chickens and pigs from Heifer International. “Being able to go on a trip into the countryside with Heifer International was an amazing experience for me. The work that they do is so diverse and vast it blew me away,” Swan said.

Then while visiting Somaly Mam Foundation’s work, Serinda visited one of Somaly’s rescue shelters. After hearing the stories, and seeing what these women and children face everyday, she knew that there was something she could do: throw herself out of plane at 18,000 feet to raise $18,000 for the Foundation’s work and in hopes to bring awareness to end sex trafficking!  A few of the notable people who signed up to help included Russell Simmons, Shay Mitchell (“Pretty Little Liars”), Wilmer Valderrama (“That 70′s Show”), Mehcad Brooks (“True Blood”), Laz Alonso (“Avatar”), Colin Ferguson (“Eureka”), Jimmi Simpson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), Agnes Bruckner (“Hawaii Five-0″), Dom Lombardozzi (“Entourage”), Gabriella Wright (face of Kenzo), and Mandy Rain (recording artist).

Serinda Swan's personal fundraising page for "18 for 18"