While the Ricky Martin Foundation was the group at a Bonita Springs gala with the most name recognition, an anonymous girl brought to the Unites States at age 11 was at the heart of the event.

The Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking held its first gala Saturday, hoping to set an annual tradition.

The group gave the 2006 Humanitarian Award to the Ricky Martin Foundation. Video-taped service announcements showed Martin calling the trade of children "slaves of the new era" and called for a stop to the sexual exploitation of minors. In 2004, the foundation started its "People for Children" initiative to eliminate the $10 billion human-trafficking market and raise awareness through an international advertising campaign.

Foundation President Angel Santos, on hand to accept the award on Martin's behalf, said coalitions such as the one in Florida are the only way to raise awareness of human trafficking.

The gala also hosted the world premiere of "Lives for Sale," a documentary produced in part by Lightfoot Films and MaryKnoll for the Hallmark Channel.

Executive producer Larry Rich said the film centers around the stories of two people brought to the U.S. as slaves, including a girl from Guatemala that started a major human trafficking investigation in Southwest Florida. Shot in 14 different world locations, Rich said the film spotlights exploitation of children in poor nations, and the way human beings are still traded as slaves.

The documentary will air on the Hallmark Channel and PBS this fall.

Fernando Pascual was sentenced in August to 10 years in federal prison for sex trafficking and harboring an illegal immigrant. He brought the girl to Cape Coral, federal prosecutors said, after buying her from her parents. The girl was forced to have sex with Pascual and perform household chores, authorities said.

During that time, the girl was impregnated and repeatedly beaten, authorities said.

Pascual's sister Matilde Pascual Andres was sentenced to a year and 10 months in prison for helping harbor the girl, and his brother-in-law Pascual Sebastian Miguel was sentenced in May to one year and four months for his role in the crime.

The News-Press in 2005 sent a reporter to Guatemala to investigate the story. The newspaper and a number of other local media also received awards Saturday.

Anna Rodriguez, who founded the coalition two years ago, said major strides have been made in raising awareness of the trafficking process. She said she was largely unaware of the scope of human trafficking until she became involved with the girl from Guatemala.

The coalition just opened a new office in Jacksonville in addition to the Southwest Florida headquarters, and plans to open new offices in Pensacola, Tampa, Palm Beach and Miami.