Boothbay-based anti-trafficking organization Friends of Thai Daughters (FTD) is 20 this year and is holding an extra-special Sunflower Celebration in East Boothbay Thursday, June 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. to mark the occasion!

In honor of the event, 10 of our Thai daughters will be joining us in Maine, flying all the way from Thailand, and we're delighted that all of them now have their passports and visas.

For most of these girls this will be their first time on an airplane, not to mention out of Thailand. They are so excited about the upcoming adventure and the chance to meet their many supporters and friends in the United States.

The annual celebration is always tremendous fun and draws friends and supporters old and new from across the country and beyond. It features signature cocktails, delicious food provided by East Boothbay General Store, a raw bar, and the main attraction - a spirited live auction of prizes donated by our generous supporters. A special treat, there will be a performance of traditional Thai dances by our visiting daughters, ages 11 to 17.

This year’s auction prizes include a five-star luxury hotel stay in London, a tarpon fishing experience in Boca Grande, Florida; a week-long stay in the Costa del Sol, and a round of golf with the Club Champion at the championship course The Country Club, Brookline, Mass. Other prizes include paintings by Maine artist Andrea Peters, concert tickets to Bonnie Raitt and Darius Rucker, and a private sailboat cruise around Boston Harbor.

Early bird tickets for the event are on sale at $125 each. Every ticket sold will help us fly these wonderful girls to Maine, where they are looking forward to sharing their stories and experiences with us.

Join us in East Boothbay and find out about the work we do, how the support our friends give here makes such a difference in the lives of vulnerable girls at risk of being trafficked. To secure your ticket, and learn more about FTD, visit the Sunflower Celebration page on our website: https://friendsofthaidaughters.org/