State Awards Funds to Pregnancy Centers that Promote Childbirth Over Abortion
ODJFS Announces Awardees of Pregnancy and Parenting Support Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Katherine Franklin
DATE: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 PHONE: 614-547-0099 ext. 304
COLUMBUS, Ohio–Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services announced the awardees of Ohio Right to Life’s Pregnancy and Parenting Support Program. The program, which was signed by Governor John Kasich as part of the 2016-2017 State Budget, provides $1 million to life-affirming organizations that promote childbirth over abortion. Awardees of the funding include: Elizabeth’s New Life Center, Heartbeat of Toledo, Oasis of Hope, and Family and Youth Initiatives.
“Ohio is blessed to be home to more than 140 pregnancy centers that are actively assisting new mothers during and after pregnancy,” said Stephanie Ranade Krider, executive director of Ohio Right to Life. “Centers like this year’s awardees continue to show us what it means to truly care for Ohio’s most vulnerable across the span of life. They are true community leaders who will turn every dollar they’ve earned into saved lives.”
Collectively, this year’s recipients operate 13 pregnancy centers in southwest, northwest and northeast Ohio. Elizabeth’s New Life Center operates seven women’s centers in southwest Ohio, three in Montgomery County and others in Warren, Hamilton, and Shelby Counties. Their seventh center is their new Mobile Women’s Center that travels to local college campuses. Heartbeat of Toledo has two locations that serve women and their families on the east and west sides of Toledo. They are currently raising funds for their own mobile unit. Oasis of Hope provides a range of programs from their center in Medina, and Family and Youth Initiatives serves families through three centers in Clark County.
“Ohio’s pregnancy centers continue to represent the heart of the pro-life movement through active compassion,” said Krider. “We are grateful to our pro-life legislators and our pro-life governor for prioritizing funding for those who serve the pre-born and their mothers. Our team looks forward to the many ways in which this new funding will facilitate these organizations’ outreach to their communities.”