CSS so Good at Supporting Pregnant Women, State Agency Gives it Top Award

By Lou Baldwin

Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been named Pennsylvania’s Service Provider of the Year by the Harrisburg-based Real Alternatives, a state-funded nonprofit that administers the Alternative to Abortion Services Program of the Commonwealth.

The award is presented annually to the provider agency that has served the most pregnant women across the state.

The award was officially presented in Harrisburg on March 21 by Lourdes Padilla, deputy secretary for the Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Income Maintenance to Amy Stoner of CSS.

 Padilla, who was filling in for Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, who was called away for legislative duties, had a moving experience of her own that made the ceremony especially important to her.

She herself was pregnant and because of problems was advised to have an abortion. She refused, telling the doctor she was pro-life. Her son is now 35 years old.

“We are extremely grateful and humbled,” Stoner said in accepting the award, “to know that CSS’s impact is so far-reaching and honored by Real Alternatives as the Service Provider of the Year.

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 Lou Baldwin is a freelance writer and a member of St. Leo Parish, Philadelphia.