The Shell Game of Corrupted Government Exposed
Carolina Pregnancy Center holds Legacy of Life Gala fundraiser
For expecting mothers and fathers who feel unequipped to handle a baby, the Carolina Pregnancy Center of Washington is continually positioning itself to help you. Just last Monday, CPC held its 3rd Annual Legacy of Life Gala, which amassed contributions exceeding $14,000, to help fund the free services it provides to those with child: peer counseling, pregnancy tests, ultrasound, prenatal vitamins, multi-vitamins, baby and maternity clothes, baby equipment, parenting classes and abstinence education.
CPC is a Christian organization, dedicated to preventing abortion and bringing people to Christ. Its mission statement reads: "The Carolina Pregnancy Center exists to provide abortion alternatives, post abortion support, and abstinence education with the hope of transforming lives through the grace of Jesus Christ."
The center's director Susie Rollins realizes, however, that women considering abortion have real fears and problems that cannot go unaddressed.
"Most of us in this room would stand up right now and applaud the young mommy who makes the right choice and chooses to give her baby life," said Rollins. "But I'm finding out that many of us will turn right around and fault her when she sincerely has no clue how to parent. At Carolina Pregnancy Center we feel an obligation to her baby."
Washington's Carolina Pregnancy Center Director Susie Rollins opens the 3rd Annual Legacy of Life Gala.
Women who join CPC receive baby clothes and supplies, maternity clothes and vitamins, as long as they are registered for and attending the seven required CPC parenting classes. The center is poised to launch a new program in January, called "Diapers for Diplomas," which rewards teen moms with free baby diapers, providing they are participating in the CPC parenting classes, making academic progress at school, and maintaining a good attendance record.
"If we all work together to keep these kids in school, there's a good chance that we will not see the baby girl just born to one of these mommies walk through our door 14 years from now," said Rollins.
One of the speakers at the fundraiser was 29-year-old Gwen Gilbert, who attributed her current success to the love and hope she received from CPC volunteers when she was pregnant at 13, and again at 14, years old. Gilbert is presently seeking her second master's degree, a dual degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Substance Abuse in Clinical Counseling.
"Even though I had my two children at 14 and 15 years old, I knew that I wanted to be successful. I wanted to be a college graduate," she said. "Way back then, statistics said: 'You're not going to make it. Here you are: You're from a broken home; your mom was from a broken home; your grandma was from a broken home. You're not going to make it.' I am not a statistic."
Legacy of Life Gala speaker Gwen Gilbert recalling the love and hope she was given by CPC volunteers, as a pregnant and scared 13-year-old girl.
Rollins is also in the process of developing a parenting class for teen fathers, who might never have had good male role models growing up.
"We really have a heart for teen fathers who are just so misunderstood," said Rollins. "People assume that they don't want to help with their children, but, chances are, they just don't know how."
The second speaker, Ravon Ravenell, a 32-year-old male who had his first child at 17, could attest to that reality. He testified that as soon as he and his girlfriend gave their lives over to Christ, what he called an "atmosphere of death"--smoking marijuana, having sex outside of marriage, not being there for his pregnant girlfriend--changed to an "atmosphere of life." Now, he and his children's mother are happily married, pregnant with their third child and have promising careers.
"The enemy has set up an atmosphere of fatherlessness...You can take a young lady and put her under a good father, and I guarantee you, for the most part, she won't be promiscuous, she won't have babies outside of marriage, because the love of the father, it creates an atmosphere where the enemy is not able to penetrate," said Ravenell. "You take that same little girl, where she doesn't have the love of a father--what's going to happen is, is she's going to look for the love of a father in some young knucklehead in the streets, that's going to get her pregnant, that's going to do all the things that aren't conducive to righteousness."
Legacy of Life Gala speaker Ravon Ravenell sharing his testimony before the crowd.
Rollins--a petite woman with a big personality (fittingly referred to as a 'firecracker' by Ravenell)--has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of CPC since she became director three years ago. From Sept. 2009 to Sept. 2010, she reports, 800 people have sought help from CPC. In August alone, Rollins said the center gained 71 clients; just last week, 19 new clients walked through the doors. The organization is outgrowing its location, and is hoping to expand in the near future, said the Greenville CPC Executive Director Blake Honeycutt.
"We feel that we are very close to seeing the possibility of a physical move to a larger location, and, with your help, I know we can do it," said Honeycutt.
The fundraiser, which sold about 200, $30 tickets, was organized by Rollins and hosted by the First Church of Christ in Washington. Some fundraiser attendees embraced CPC's mission and made additional one-time donations, or monthly commitments. Envelopes were handed out, and money is still rolling in; so, the total amount raised (currently $14,000) will certainly increase.
Rollins said there were more monthly commitments this year than ever before. Monthly commitments are crucial for the center's operation, she said, as it receives very little, if any, government funding throughout the year.
"We tend to be a somewhat controversial ministry, probably because of our pro-life status; we don't get a lot of funds that way. We could sure use them," she said.
Several local churches were well represented among the donors at the event: St. Peter's Episcopal, Harvest Church, First United Methodist, Alligood Church of God, and more. Members from the public sector were also in attendance: Beaufort County Commissioner Robert Cayton, Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps and Republican candidate for Beaufort County School Board Terry Williams.
CPC peer counselor Beth Hardison listens at the Legacy of Life Gala as Ravenell gives his testimony.
CPC is located at 1009 Brown St. in Washington. Donations can either be mailed or hand delivered. No donation is too large or too small. Besides monetary donations, CPC also appreciates the following donations: diapers, baby wipes, baby clothes, maternity clothes, formula, and other baby supplies. For more information on the center, call 252-946-8040. The Greenville CPC is holding their Fall Celebrate Life Banquet on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Greenville Convention Center. For more information about that event, or to make reservations, call 252-756-0402.
There are many volunteer opportunities at the center, as well. CPC is always looking for good peer counselors, post abortion facilitators, ultrasound providers, receptionists, parenting class teachers, child care providers, refreshment providers, clothes closet volunteers, office administration volunteers, house beautification volunteers, church contacts, baby shower organizers and people to help with fundraisers. More than anything, said Rollins, prayers are appreciated.
"As we meet with these girls multiple times, we form a relationship with them and, for some reason, they grow to trust us," said Rollins. "This allows us to do the one thing, the main thing, that is the desire of our hearts: We get to introduce these young women to the one man that will absolutely, positively never, ever, ever leave them, will never forsake them--and his name is Jesus."
Go Back
CPC is a Christian organization, dedicated to preventing abortion and bringing people to Christ. Its mission statement reads: "The Carolina Pregnancy Center exists to provide abortion alternatives, post abortion support, and abstinence education with the hope of transforming lives through the grace of Jesus Christ."
The center's director Susie Rollins realizes, however, that women considering abortion have real fears and problems that cannot go unaddressed.
"Most of us in this room would stand up right now and applaud the young mommy who makes the right choice and chooses to give her baby life," said Rollins. "But I'm finding out that many of us will turn right around and fault her when she sincerely has no clue how to parent. At Carolina Pregnancy Center we feel an obligation to her baby."
Washington's Carolina Pregnancy Center Director Susie Rollins opens the 3rd Annual Legacy of Life Gala. Women who join CPC receive baby clothes and supplies, maternity clothes and vitamins, as long as they are registered for and attending the seven required CPC parenting classes. The center is poised to launch a new program in January, called "Diapers for Diplomas," which rewards teen moms with free baby diapers, providing they are participating in the CPC parenting classes, making academic progress at school, and maintaining a good attendance record.
"If we all work together to keep these kids in school, there's a good chance that we will not see the baby girl just born to one of these mommies walk through our door 14 years from now," said Rollins.
One of the speakers at the fundraiser was 29-year-old Gwen Gilbert, who attributed her current success to the love and hope she received from CPC volunteers when she was pregnant at 13, and again at 14, years old. Gilbert is presently seeking her second master's degree, a dual degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Substance Abuse in Clinical Counseling.
"Even though I had my two children at 14 and 15 years old, I knew that I wanted to be successful. I wanted to be a college graduate," she said. "Way back then, statistics said: 'You're not going to make it. Here you are: You're from a broken home; your mom was from a broken home; your grandma was from a broken home. You're not going to make it.' I am not a statistic."
Legacy of Life Gala speaker Gwen Gilbert recalling the love and hope she was given by CPC volunteers, as a pregnant and scared 13-year-old girl.Rollins is also in the process of developing a parenting class for teen fathers, who might never have had good male role models growing up.
"We really have a heart for teen fathers who are just so misunderstood," said Rollins. "People assume that they don't want to help with their children, but, chances are, they just don't know how."
The second speaker, Ravon Ravenell, a 32-year-old male who had his first child at 17, could attest to that reality. He testified that as soon as he and his girlfriend gave their lives over to Christ, what he called an "atmosphere of death"--smoking marijuana, having sex outside of marriage, not being there for his pregnant girlfriend--changed to an "atmosphere of life." Now, he and his children's mother are happily married, pregnant with their third child and have promising careers.
"The enemy has set up an atmosphere of fatherlessness...You can take a young lady and put her under a good father, and I guarantee you, for the most part, she won't be promiscuous, she won't have babies outside of marriage, because the love of the father, it creates an atmosphere where the enemy is not able to penetrate," said Ravenell. "You take that same little girl, where she doesn't have the love of a father--what's going to happen is, is she's going to look for the love of a father in some young knucklehead in the streets, that's going to get her pregnant, that's going to do all the things that aren't conducive to righteousness."
Legacy of Life Gala speaker Ravon Ravenell sharing his testimony before the crowd. Rollins--a petite woman with a big personality (fittingly referred to as a 'firecracker' by Ravenell)--has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of CPC since she became director three years ago. From Sept. 2009 to Sept. 2010, she reports, 800 people have sought help from CPC. In August alone, Rollins said the center gained 71 clients; just last week, 19 new clients walked through the doors. The organization is outgrowing its location, and is hoping to expand in the near future, said the Greenville CPC Executive Director Blake Honeycutt.
"We feel that we are very close to seeing the possibility of a physical move to a larger location, and, with your help, I know we can do it," said Honeycutt.
The fundraiser, which sold about 200, $30 tickets, was organized by Rollins and hosted by the First Church of Christ in Washington. Some fundraiser attendees embraced CPC's mission and made additional one-time donations, or monthly commitments. Envelopes were handed out, and money is still rolling in; so, the total amount raised (currently $14,000) will certainly increase.
Rollins said there were more monthly commitments this year than ever before. Monthly commitments are crucial for the center's operation, she said, as it receives very little, if any, government funding throughout the year.
"We tend to be a somewhat controversial ministry, probably because of our pro-life status; we don't get a lot of funds that way. We could sure use them," she said.
Several local churches were well represented among the donors at the event: St. Peter's Episcopal, Harvest Church, First United Methodist, Alligood Church of God, and more. Members from the public sector were also in attendance: Beaufort County Commissioner Robert Cayton, Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps and Republican candidate for Beaufort County School Board Terry Williams.
CPC peer counselor Beth Hardison listens at the Legacy of Life Gala as Ravenell gives his testimony.CPC is located at 1009 Brown St. in Washington. Donations can either be mailed or hand delivered. No donation is too large or too small. Besides monetary donations, CPC also appreciates the following donations: diapers, baby wipes, baby clothes, maternity clothes, formula, and other baby supplies. For more information on the center, call 252-946-8040. The Greenville CPC is holding their Fall Celebrate Life Banquet on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Greenville Convention Center. For more information about that event, or to make reservations, call 252-756-0402.
There are many volunteer opportunities at the center, as well. CPC is always looking for good peer counselors, post abortion facilitators, ultrasound providers, receptionists, parenting class teachers, child care providers, refreshment providers, clothes closet volunteers, office administration volunteers, house beautification volunteers, church contacts, baby shower organizers and people to help with fundraisers. More than anything, said Rollins, prayers are appreciated.
"As we meet with these girls multiple times, we form a relationship with them and, for some reason, they grow to trust us," said Rollins. "This allows us to do the one thing, the main thing, that is the desire of our hearts: We get to introduce these young women to the one man that will absolutely, positively never, ever, ever leave them, will never forsake them--and his name is Jesus."
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