It’s Here! Week-long Celebration of Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers Starts Today

By Katie Franklin
National Right to Life

Fires, hurricanes, and unjust laws. These are just a few of the challenges that pro-life pregnancy help organizations have weathered over the last year—all while pursuing the mighty task of rescuing mothers and their children from abortion.

It’s with these hardships in mind that Heartbeat International, a global network of 2,600 pregnancy help organizations, kicks off the 5th Annual Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week (November 12 – 16), thanking pregnancy help organizations for their tireless service to women in need of pregnancy support.

Designed by Heartbeat International in 2014, Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week honors those working within the pregnancy help movement, a community that consists of more than 5,000 pregnancy help centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes around the world. For the last half-century, such organizations have walked alongside families throughout pregnancy and beyond, blessing them with pregnancy tests, emotional support, ultrasounds, parenting classes, and so much more at no cost.

To support the continued service provided by these centers, Heartbeat International is offering a “Deal of the Day” each day this week on training resources and other materials.

Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, recognized the movement’s worldwide impact.

“Year-round, our team has the immense privilege of visiting and working with some tremendous global partners who sacrifice greatly to serve women and babies in need,” said Godsey. 

“The strength and courage this work takes cannot be overstated. The scope of our movement is remarkable, and leaves us exceedingly grateful for every person who plays a role in rescuing mothers and unborn babies from abortion around the world.”

In the U.S. alone, pregnancy help centers served nearly 2 million people with free services in 2017—an estimated community cost savings of at least $161 million.

The bulk of those savings came from the 400,100 ultrasounds performed at pregnancy centers last year. Those services saved communities over $100 million.

A total of 67,400 volunteers—7,500 of which were medical—gave their time to centers in 2017.

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U.S. Pregnancy Centers Served Nearly 2 Million People with Free Services in 2017

Together, we have empowered women to rescue their babies, to reject the lies of the abortion industry, and to seek a new way of life.

By Katie Franklin
National Right to Life

Today, a comprehensive report on the work of pregnancy help centers was released, celebrating 50 years of service and examining how the movement has evolved over the last half century.

The 80-page report, “A Half Century of Hope, A Legacy of Life and Love: Pregnancy Center Service Report, Third Edition,” produced by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, presents key findings from 2,600 U.S. pregnancy help centers affiliated with one or more of the three major national networks—Care Net, Heartbeat International, and NIFLA—as well as other parent pregnancy center organizations.

Chief among those findings is that pregnancy centers served nearly 2 million people in the United States with free services in 2017—an estimated community cost savings of at least $161 million.

“Looking at our collective work on a grand scale is simply breathtaking,” said Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, a worldwide organization of 2,600 affiliated pregnancy help centers.

 “At pregnancy centers, we bear witness to miracles every day—as it turns out, nearly 2 million times each year—because of dedicated volunteers and generous supporters who feel called to make a difference in people’s lives.”

The bulk of community cost savings comes from the 400,100 ultrasounds performed at pregnancy centers last year. Those services saved communities over $100 million.

Over the last decade, pregnancy help medical clinics offering ultrasound have more than doubled, from approximately 700 centers in 2008 to 1,944 in 2017. Today, more than 7 in 10 centers provide ultrasound.

With the growth of ultrasound, the demand for medical professionals at pregnancy centers has also increased, and thousands have answered.

Registered nurses and medical sonographers contributed over 400,000 hours to pregnancy centers, and a total of 67,400 volunteers—7,500 of which were medical—gave their time to centers in 2017.

In addition to medical services, pregnancy centers have also expanded educational opportunities for clients. In 2017, 87 percent of centers offered parenting and prenatal education programs—an increase from 78 percent of centers in 2010.

Other growing additions to the pregnancy help movement include Abortion Pill Reversal, which has saved over 500 lives since its inception in 2007, and the use of mobile units, 100 of which are now operating across the U.S.

Although 86 percent of pregnancy centers receive no public funding, they have nevertheless earned recognition from multiple levels of government. Resolutions honoring pregnancy centers have been passed in 18 states, and state health departments actively refer to pregnancy centers in at least 18 states.

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Pregnant, need help or know someone who does?  

National Hotline: Call 1-800-712-HELP or Text 'HELPLINE' to 313131.

In Southeast Penna:  Call the Community Women's Center at  215-826-8090

If you or someone you know is suffering after abortion, confidential non-judgmental help is available.  

Call Project Rachel's national toll-free number 888-456-HOPE (4673) or visit hopeafterabortion.org.