STATE COLLEGE — The Pregnancy Resource Clinic had a “phenomenal” turnout of 685 guests March 21 at its annual fundraising banquet, “Wellspring of Life,” said executive director Jenny Summers.
“It is always uplifting to the staff, board of directors and volunteers to be among others in the community who support our mission,” said Summers.
The mission of PRC is educating, encouraging and empowering men and women to make informed life choices.
Sam Dye, master of ceremonies for the banquet at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center and the director of operations for Way Truth Life Radio, welcomed the assembly. Following the opening prayer by Pastor Ben Lee, of Bald Eagle Baptist Church, dinner was served.
During the meal, a slide show was presented featuring many of the clinic’s staff and volunteers.
A video, courtesy of Calvary Church, featured one of PRC’s clients. It highlighted the importance of the clinic’s work and how it impacted one woman’s life. The young woman spoke of how she considered abortion, but changed her mind and sought help from the PRC. She credited the clinic staff for kindness, understanding and information.
The clinic offers a two-year program for young mothers and fathers to help them learn about good parenting following the birth of their child.
Summers praised her staff and commented on how well they functioned together as a team.
“We believe people matter by offering encouragement, education and empowerment to those who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, encouragement in the young parenting years, and those who need testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases,” she said. “Our mission is community-funded, which allows us to provide free and confidential services. As a private provider of the Department of Health, we are happy to be entrusted with our community’s sexual health needs.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The keynote speaker for the evening was Mike Williams. Williams and his family serve in the Dominican Republic directing a mission touching the lives of trafficked girls, a dump ministry and an orphanage ministry.
In his professional life, Williams has recorded 17 comedy projects and written eight books, including “Men Moved to Mars When Women Started Killing the Ones on Venus” and “Turkey Soup for the Sarcastic Soul.” People continuously laughed as he spoke, but on a more serious note, he explained why he felt tied to the purposes of the PRC.
“I was a throwaway kid,” he said. His mother had given him away, as it turned out, to wonderful parents who raised him. That story and another about his own rescued and adopted son were an inspiration to attendees. Summers noted that it costs $2,500 yearly to have and maintain the clinic’s ultrasound machine, $4,000 to run the Life Skills Program and $3,300 monthly for rent. No one who comes to the clinic pays a cent. All money comes through one-time gifts, monthly pledges and underwriting for the fundraising dinner, minus expenses.
The clinic has been growing steadily since opening in 1984. In 2012, there were 260 total appointments. In 2016, that had increased to 2,028. There were 65 churches represented at the banquet, and the PRC was able to more than double its monthly donors.
In an email update following the banquet, Summers said, “We believe people matter because each person is uniquely made, has intrinsic value and a divine purpose.”
For more information, call (814) 234-7341 or visit www.scprc.com.
