Local Firm Cited for Efforts to End Human Trafficking

It’s more than 7,650 miles from Detroit to Kathmandu.

But that didn’t stop a Bloomfield company from reaching out to rescue young Nepali girls from a life of slavery and prostitution.

At a ceremony in Birmingham’s Townsend Hotel, Somerset Painting was awarded “Business of the Year” from international relief agency, Forgotten Children Worldwide. Founded in 1999, Forgotten Children is located near Fort Wayne, IN, and operates orphanages and rescue operations in India, Kenya, Nepal, and other countries.

Rick Hartsell, founder of Somerset Painting & Home Improvements, explained his motivation for helping: “Every 26 seconds, a child is trafficked around the world.I have two daughters of my own. I had to get involved. Our entire business is now dedicated to transforming lives of at-risk kids.”

While volunteering overseas, Hartsell decided to devote Somerset to helping children. His plan? “Donating a one-year child sponsorship with every major paint job or home improvement,” he said.

“There’s no cost to our clients, and a vulnerable orphan gets food, clothing and education for 12 months,” he said. “On commercial projects, we donate 10 percent of all profits.”

Co-owner Eric Regan said the company’s goal is to help impoverished families reach a position of self-sustainability. “Our goal is self-sustainability for impoverished families,” he said. “We don’t just donate money and food. We give them tools to generate income for years to come.”

Hartsell agrees.

“Our way to fight child exploitation is by starting self-sustaining businesses,” he said. “When people can earn a living, they don’t have to sell their children to feed the rest of the family – and they can assist other poor kids, too.”

Recently, Somerset helped buy a self-supporting farm near Kathmandu, Nepal. In November of this year, the company donated a 16-passenger mini-bus to FCW partners in Nepal to launch a taxi and tourism business. This profitable bus service allows six Nepali families to care for themselves and take in 3 orphan kids per household.

Somerset’s charitable focus is meant to inspire other local business owners to jump in.

“We take concerned Americans with us overseas to come up with solutions,” Regan said. “These U.S. entrepreneurs can help indigenous people combat injustice – like human trafficking – by setting up locally run businesses.”

Hartsell challenged Michigan businesses to join him. “I started Somerset in 1985. Now it’s time to give back,” he said. “If you’d like to travel abroad with us, or have ideas for self-sustaining microbusiness, let’s discuss it. We can help fight child exploitation by fighting the poverty that breeds slavery.”

Interested volunteers can contact Hartsell directly at Rick@SomersetPainting.com.

The 2014 “Business of the Year” award was presented to Somerset Painting by Forgotten Children’s Chief Development Officer, Aaron Brown, of Fort Wayne.

“Rick and Eric went above and beyond with new, creative solutions,” Brown said. “By funding agriculture, transportation, and vocational training, they are lifting families out of poverty while saving kids from human trafficking. They deserved to be honored.”

Photos:

1. Somerset Painting’s owners Rick Hartsell (center left) and Eric Regan (center right) at one of the orphanages they support in Kathmandu, Nepal. The local businessmen were on a recent trip to set up self-sustaining business to fight poverty and human trafficking.
2. Somerset Painting receives 2014 “Business of the Year” award from Forgotten Children Finance Director, Aaron Brown (second from left) at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. Somerset co-owner Eric Regan (far left), founder Rick Hartsell (second from right), and office manager Naomi Cremen (far right) were on hand.
3. Somerset Painting’s founder and CEO Rick Hartsell hangs out with two orphan boys his company supports in Nepal. The boys love school, soccer, and cricket.
4. Somerset Painting’s founder and CEO Rick Hartsell inspects a crop at the farm that his business purchased and donated to poor families in Kathmandu, Nepal.