On September 19, 2008, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation awarded 150 pregnancy center volunteers and 56 pregnancy centers with The President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award was created by the Council as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. The award ceremony was hosted by the White House Freedom Corps and the U.S. Department of Public Health and Science.
The volunteers and pregnancy centers receiving the award included 32 Heartbeat International-affiliated pregnancy resource centers, and 55 volunteers who serve Heartbeat-affiliated centers. Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph. D., stated, “We are very proud to carry on the American tradition of volunteerism and community service especially in a way that helps women and strengthens families.”
The award is given based upon the number of hours an individual or group serves over a 12-month period, or upon cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime. Dr. Ann Moell, Medical Director of Elizabeth’s New Life Center (Heartbeat’s affiliate in Dayton, Ohio), was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for providing women facing crisis pregnancies with over 4,000 hours of volunteer service. Dr. Moell stated in an interview that she first started to volunteer at pregnancy centers to “help people find an alternative solution to a difficult pregnancy instead of abortion.”
The bestowing of President’s Volunteer Service Award on crisis pregnancy centers and volunteers is a testimony to the great need for crisis pregnancy centers in American society, and of the good services crisis pregnancy centers provide to mothers in need.
For more information on crisis pregnancy centers, click here.
For more information on Heartbeat International, click here.
To watch the interview with Dr. Ann Moell, click here.
