You Are My Light Foundation

Who We Are

About You Are My Light Foundation

Rescue is often described as the moment everything changes. In truth, it is the moment everything begins. For many survivors of human trafficking and exploitation, the hardest work starts after the crisis has passed. The headlines fade. The urgency quiets.

What remains is the long, complex process of rebuilding a life interrupted by coercion, trauma, and instability. You Are My Light Foundation was created to stand in that space. We exist to close the gap between rescue and restoration by establishing trauma-informed residential healing centers designed specifically for adult survivors. Within these structured, safe environments, survivors are given something rarely afforded to them before: time. Time to stabilize. Time to address trauma. Time to rebuild skills, restore confidence, pursue economic independence, and rediscover identity beyond survival.

We believe justice is not fulfilled at the moment exploitation ends. Justice is fulfilled when a survivor has the stability, resources, and support necessary to make real choices about their future. Some may choose quiet independence. Others may choose leadership or advocacy. True restoration honors both. It honors autonomy. It honors dignity. It honors choice. Those who serve within You Are My Light are deeply committed to this work.

We are driven by a belief that every survivor deserves more than safety, they deserve a future. We are willing to hold space for healing, to walk patiently alongside complexity, and to build environments where trust can be restored slowly and intentionally. This mission is not transactional for us. It is personal. It is purposeful. It is rooted in the conviction that lives can be rebuilt and that restoration, when done well, changes more than one life at a time. Our work is grounded in compassion, faith, and collaboration. We partner with trusted professionals and community organizations to ensure survivors are not navigating recovery alone. We are not a short-term intervention. Because freedom is not simply the absence of exploitation.

It is the presence of safety, stability, and choice. Stand with us in building the environments where restoration becomes real.
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2021

Year Established

250+

Volunteers

$413,230

Money Raised
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Meet YAML's Founder,
Orly Amor
Orly Amor did not arrive at this work through theory or distance. She arrived through lived
experience.

As a survivor of abuse, Orly knows firsthand that rescue is not the end of the story. Survival is only
the beginning. Healing, dignity, and freedom require long-term support, faith, and the courage to rebuild a life that was never meant to be broken.

Her journey from victim to advocate, from survivor to self-made entrepreneur and global influencer, shaped a conviction she could not ignore: no one should be left alone once the spotlight fades and the rescue headlines end.

Since formally establishing You Are My Light as a nonprofit organization in 2021, Orly has devoted herself to advocacy, education, fundraising, and the foundational work required to build a sustainable path for survivor restoration. She has mobilized supporters and donors, spoken publicly about trafficking and exploitation, and laid the groundwork for healing-centered spaces where survivors can begin again with safety, dignity, and hope.

In Hebrew, Orly means my light, a reflection of the truth that light is never lost, even in the deepest darkness. You Are My Light was born from that truth. It is a reflection of Orly’s faith, her heart, and her unwavering belief that every person has a God-given right to freedom, restoration, and autonomy.

To Watch Orly's Amor's Personal Video Message Click Here
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Meet YAML's Executive Director,
Kate Guimbellot
Kate is a mission-driven executive leader and human rights advocate with decades of experience building and leading complex initiatives across nonprofit, corporate, and global environments.

Throughout her career, Kate has guided organizations through periods of growth and transformation, designing strong operational foundations, cultivating collaborative cultures, and translating big visions into practical, ethical action. Her work spans strategic leadership, organizational design, fundraising and engagement, and cross-sector partnership, always rooted in purpose and people.

As Executive Director of You Are My Light, Kate brings both professional rigor and deep compassion to the role. She is committed to stewarding the foundation with integrity, clarity, and care, ensuring that the work is grounded, sustainable, and centered on dignity and restoration. Kate leads with the belief that when empathy is paired with disciplined execution, meaningful and lasting change is possible.

Advisory Counsel 
 

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Frances Phelan Krische

Council Member
 
Frances is an attorney based in New York with extensive experience in civil litigation, trusts, and estates. She is the owner of her own law firm and previously served as a Brooklyn prosecutor and as a Law Guardian for the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to justice, advocacy, and giving voice to those who are vulnerable.

Frances brings legal insight, governance perspective, and deep care for ethical stewardship to her role on the Advisory Council of You Are My Light.
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Janelle Anderson

Council Member

Janelle is a former educator, certified coach, author, and speaker who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. After a 20-year career in education, she transitioned into coaching and advocacy, focusing on empowerment, purpose, and personal growth.

Through her writing, speaking, and coaching practice, Janelle supports others in reclaiming their voice and moving forward with clarity and strength. Her perspective adds depth, resilience, and insight to the Advisory
Council.
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Shelly McClintock

Council Member
 
Shelly McClintock, MS, EdS, is a nonprofit and human services leader with more than 30 years of experience supporting children, families, and individuals across the United States. With academic training in Family and Child Development from Virginia Tech and advanced degrees in Psychology and School Psychology from Radford University, her work integrates trauma-informed practice with program leadership and evaluation.

Her professional background spans early childhood systems, mental health services, case management, and higher education, with extensive experience in Head Start as both a Program Director and Federal Reviewer. As a member of the You Are My Light Advisory Council, Shelly brings clinical insight and systems-level expertise to support the development of stable, accountable, and survivor-centered restoration models.
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Tara Catogge

Council Member

Tara Catogge is a senior publishing executive, human rights advocate, and philanthropist with a career defined by values-driven leadership and service. She has held multiple executive roles in sales and operations, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer of Insight Editions, one of the world’s largest licensed publishers, and as Chairperson of the Book Industry Study Group. Tara holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Alongside her professional leadership, Tara is deeply committed to advancing human dignity through philanthropy and service. She has served on the board of the Arizona Refugee Center and founded Mani While You Cure, a nonprofit providing touch-therapy services to patients undergoing chemotherapy and dialysis. As a member of the You Are My Light Advisory Council, Tara brings strategic insight, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to dignity-centered systems that support survivor restoration.

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