other - The Catherine Foundation

years
of speaking out for those who
cannot speak for themselves.
Prov. 31:8-9
Summer 2013 NEWSLETTER
Yellow Socks
It was just another normal, busy
and blessed day at the Catherine
Foundation when a lovely young lady
with her tiny baby came to our door.
I answered the door to be greeted
with a sweet smile, a basket full of
beautiful baby clothes to be donated
and a “thank you for what this
foundation does for the hearts and
lives of people.” I could sense this
young lady had a deeper connection
to the ministry of the pregnancy care
center.
We began to converse and get to
know one another. She explained that
she had just relocated to the area and
first on her priority list was to find
the local pregnancy care center so
that she could give to help babies and
moms in need. She began
to share her personal
story…
With tears, she
explained that as
a small child
she and
her
mother were homeless and lived out
of a vehicle for a short period of time.
During that challenging time, they
stumbled upon the local pregnancy
care center in the city in which they
lived. She shared that the very minute
she walked into the center, she was
overwhelmed with a sense of love and
peace. Kindness surrounded her and
the yellow pair of socks she received
that day (along with other necessary
items), was the most beautiful and
memorable gift she had ever received
as a young child. The items were
given in love and a memory was built
for a lifetime in the heart of a young
child in need. The team at the local
pregnancy center were probably
unaware that this simple moment
would impact her life forever. As a
result, she believes in and supports
our foundation through the donation
of items to help moms and babies.
May this story encourage your
heart! Even the simplest of items
donated (yellow socks!) can make the
most incredible difference in the
life of a child in need. You see, our
ministry has many components.
We share life and love to those
abortion minded men and women,
we share the gospel of Jesus
Christ to those craving hope and
healing and we provide material items
to those who need them most. When
we meet needs and show kindness,
we build trust and open the door to
share life with the clients who are
lost, seeking and desperate for love.
Thank you for your prayers,
incredible support and generosity. As
the Word of God says, “Let us not
grow weary in doing good, for at the
proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
(NIV) I am looking forward to sharing
more about all of the great things
going on at our center at our annual
banquet on Oct. 18! See you all there!
Please call to reserve
your seat soon.
Full of Gratitude,
Heather B. Sells, CEO
Inside:
• Celebrating 30 Years!
• Annual Banquet
• A Special Thank You
• Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor
Thursday Provisions
It was early on a mid-August Thursday. The phone rang and Yvonne
(volunteer) answered. On the other end of the line was a gentleman
who said God specifically told him to come by the foundation today to
donate two strollers and a pack and play. Yvonne excitedly encouraged
him to come that day!
As this gentleman (and 2 young sons) came to our door with the
items to donate, so did a client in need. This is how God works: at the
exact same time, client and donor came to our door. The mom (and her children) needed the exact items that our donor
had felt led to bring to us. He was able to bless this client and her children who were living in a shelter. Our donor was
beyond thrilled not only to meet a need, but to see it happen right in front of his eyes. His two young sons that came to the
foundation with him were also able to witness how God’s calling led to a small but significant charitable miracle.
Not only did our client hear the gospel spoken by Yvonne, she saw our God move to meet her need so timely and so
specifically. So many people were impacted through this August Thursday moment. Yvonne said, “What I have learned
through this beautiful moment, is that when God says move, it is time to move. His timing is perfect and He sets up divine
appointments as we obey Him in faith.”
The mission of the
Catherine Foundation
Pregnancy Care Center
is to affirm the value
of all life through
compassionate care,
resources, education, and
positive alternatives.
Center Updates
We are celebrating 30 years!
Our annual banquet is fast approaching and our seating is limited! Please
call the reserve your table of 10 or your individual seat as soon as possible. Our
fundraising banquet is on OCTOBER 18, 2013 AT THE JAYCEES BEGINNING AT
6:30. We are beyond thrilled to have abortion survivor Gianna Jessen as our
guest speaker. As a follow up to last year’s banquet, the movie October Baby was
loosely based on Gianna Jessen’s life story. I cannot wait to see you all there!
A special
Thank You
To Our Sponsors
& Volunteers!
Thank you to Pat Blanton (volunteer) who took on the large
responsibility of organizing all donated materials. What a blessing and
answer to prayer.
Thank you to all of our partners in ministry (churches and individuals)
who continue to support us through prayer, financial gifts, material
assistance and service.
Thank you to the Linus Project Blanketeers who provide beautiful,
hand- made blankets for our moms and babies. We know so much love
and care is put into each and every blanket.
Upcoming Fundraiser
Thank you to those
individuals and churches who
are participating in our upcoming
Fall Baby Bottle Fundraiser!
Your change adds up and helps
to save lives. Please return the
bottle to your church or to us by
the end of November. Your giving
hearts reveal the love of Jesus
so boldly.
Gianna Jessen
Abortion Survivor
The term “abortion survivor” is
scrawled across many T-shirts that are
worn by teenagers and 20-somethings at
pro-life rallies, meetings, and marches.
The purpose is to raise awareness that
their mothers could have made the choice
to end their lives in the womb.
a cost. As Gianna was fighting for her
life during the saline abortion, she lost
oxygen to her brain. The direct result
was Cerebral Palsy. Doctors said she
would never walk, talk, crawl, go to
school or make anything of herself.
However, once again Gianna proved them
all wrong. Gianna walks with a slight
It is true that, in a sense, those born
after Roe v. Wade are abortion survivors. limp, has participated in marathons and
was given the gift to radically change
However, there are very few men and
women who exemplify the true definition hearts with her powerful testimony of
her life. Gianna now travels the country
of abortion survivor. One of them is
and the world to testify to the
Gianna Jessen.
scourge of abortion to those
When Gianna’s
It can be said that every who will listen and to those
biological mother
who are made uncomfortable
American child born
was 17 years old
by her mere existence. I have
and 7 months
after January 22, 1973 is listened to her speeches on
pregnant, she
an abortion survivor!
youtube.com and a statement
decided to
she uses that resonates
undergo a saline
with me is, “If abortion is
abortion at a Planned Parenthood clinic.
This is a two-day procedure where saline all about ‘women’s rights,’ then what
were my rights?”. Her story even
solution is injected into the womb and
made shockwaves in the entertainment
the baby is engulfed in the solution and
industry. The movie, “October Baby” is
burned inside and out. On the second
based on Gianna’s story.
day, labor is induced and the woman
delivers a still-born child. But Gianna did
not die. Instead she entered the world
kicking and screaming in the abortion
clinic where she was supposed to die.
Fortunately, a nurse called an ambulance
and she was transported to the hospital.
Ironically, it was the abortionist who
signed her birth certificate.
The attempt on her life came with
For over thirty years, The Catherine
Foundation Pregnancy Care Center
in Waldorf has helped women make
a different choice than the one that
almost took Gianna’s life. Here women
can access free childbirth classes,
obtain laboratory-quality tests, and
receive information about all the options
available to make intelligent, informed
Donate Online!
decisions. Confidential support and
assistance is provided by compassionate
and caring people who are trained to
help.
On October 18, Gianna Jessen will
be the guest speaker for the Catherine
Foundation’s annual fundraising banquet
at the Waldorf Jaycees. It is an honor
and privilege to hear her powerful
pro-life witness. Admission is free but
donations will be solicited and advance
reservations are required. Please
contact the Catherine Foundation at
301-932-8811 to make your reservations.
Proceeds from the banquet will support
the important work the Catherine
Foundation does for men, women and
children in need, so no pregnancy has to
be a crisis.
Kim and Andy Cardwell
Coordinators, Sanctity of Life Ministry
St. Peter’s Church, Waldorf, MD
New & Improved
Our new and improved website (www.
catherinefoundation.org) has many wonderful
features to better represent all the Catherine
Foundation has to offer our clients, as well as
center updates and all of the fun events we
have planned in the upcoming months. One
of the most exciting new features on our new
website is our new online donation capability.
We are excited to present an easier and more
convenient way for our donors to contribute
to the foundation. We are also happy to be
able to now communicate more through
email (newsletters, monthly receipts, etc.),
as it will help us save on postage and we
will be able to use those funds towards other
things that more directly help our clients. If
you are willing to let us email (no spam, we
promise!), please add your email to the return
envelope or feel free to email us at cfpcc@
catherinefoundation.org
so we may add you to our
online contact list.
Kristen Gannon,
Administrative Assistant
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Chattanooga, TN
Permit No. 1308
3065 Old Washington Rd.
Waldorf, MD 20601
Our Staf f
We are blessed!
Newslet ter
Sponsor
Board of Directors
A special thanks goes to the following
staff of the Catherine Foundation
Pregnancy Care Center.
Staff
Heather Sells - CEO
Vicki Yowell - Nurse Manager
Kristen Gannon - Admin. Assistant
Amy Young - Director of Client Services/
Volunteer Coordinator
Billie Stachura - Board Chair
James Wickham - Vice Chair
Jennie Harris - Secretary
Luke Slay - Treasurer
Paul Goodwin - Board Member
Joi Brown-Thompson - Board Member
Michael Rogalski - Board Member
Fred Caudle - Board Member
Christopher Ogne - Board Member
Dr. Alawode - Medical Director
If you are interested in becoming
a newsletter sponsor, contact
Heather Sells at the
Catherine Foundation.
www.catherinefoundation.org
301-932-8811 (ext. 16)
[email protected]