SPRING 2016

IN THIS ISSUE: Page 2

Current Volunteers Director/Board of Directors Medical Director Volunteers K of C Spaghetti Dinner Page 3 Farewell to Betty Ann Daley Wish List

Page 4 Tribute to Krysta Ballam Memorials in her Honor

Page 5 Memorials and Honorariums Gift-Matching Corporations Letter from Ghana Mission Statement Page 6 Help Form Office Hours

BIRTHRIGHT — Is a ministry treating all women and babies as sacred.. BIRTHRIGHT — Loves babies to life, one mother and baby at a time.. BIRTHRIGHT — Gives it’s services free of charge, a tax-exempt, char-itable organization. BIRTHRIGHT accepts no government funding.

BIRTHRIGHT of West Chester is an entirely volunteer or-ganization with no paid staff. All of the help we are able to offer our mothers comes from our amaz-ing volunteers and our wonderful donors.

Speaking the Truth in Love

When a young woman come to or phones our Birthright Office and says that she is going to have an abortion, we are all terrified even though we have been friendship counseling for years. It never gets easy. You want to protect life, but what do you say? What do you do? How do you apply the truth that you know? The first thing one learns is to “LISTEN” and then take aa deep breath. Personally, I calm my panic, and tune into what this young woman is telling me. I hear what she is saying – and I hear what she is NOT saying. Many of the reasons a woman commonly gives for wanting an abortion are simply smoke screens for the real issues she is dealing with. I try to listen and to reply to root causes as much as I can. I listen for the maternal bonding that is already taking place between the mother and her baby. Recently, a young woman called and was crying so hard, I could hardly understand her. She had decided to have an abortion because it was the best thing. After all, “It’s just a simple proce-dure.” Somehow between all those tears, I was not convinced that she was sold on the idea of aborting. I listened for the young woman’s feelings for the child and acknowledged that I truly sensed that she was a loving person and does really care what happens to her baby. Abortion-minded young women need to hear the truth. But, what truth.? It’s so easy to focus immediately on the baby, and rightly so – his or her life is in danger. It is important to realize that this young woman is also facing a crisis. The shock that accompanies the discovery of an unplanned pregnancy insulates women from the reality of their unborn child. Many women abort their baby before they make their way through the shock. The truth has to be relevant to the young woman’s stated concerns. I try lovingly to confront false statements. Is she aborting to save a relationship? Few relation-ships are strong enough to survive the strain of taking a child’s life. Is she aborting to save her own reputation? I talk to her about how she will feel about herself. How valuable is the respect of strangers or even friends when you cannot face yourself? Is she aborting because it will solve her problems? This young woman may feel that an abortion is the answer to a difficult problem. I try to help her realize that aborting her baby will not take away her problem; it will simply place before her an entire new set of problems. Fetal development is a truth that she must be aware of. The easiest one is to remember that just ten weeks after conception, the baby is totally formed. All of the body’s systems are in place. There are even fingerprints! Between ten weeks and birth, all that is added to the baby is strength, size, and complexity. Brochures and fact sheets about a baby’s development during the nine months are helpful. We help the young woman access all the options available to her as alternatives to abortion, such as: free prenatal care, financial assistance, baby and maternity clothes, furniture, housing, and the loving choice both for her and her baby, making an adoption plan, Abortion brings out anger. We all hate the fact that an innocent child will lose her life. Some-times we can empathize so much with the child that we become paralyzed and fail to reach out to the mother. To save the child, we must help her mother. Anger needs to be channeled toward the sin of abortion. Compassion and loving truth need to be directed toward the mother. She is also a person whose life must be valued. No one has the right words all the time. That is why the first millisecond after we hear that she wants an abortion, we pray for words and wisdom from the throne of God. He knows it’s com-ing, and He promises to deliver. God loves that child who is in danger. He loves the mother, and He wants us to “speak the truth

in love.” He will equip all who are in His service for the unborn with strength and teach us what we need to say.

CURRENT VOLUNTEERS

Sally Austin Therese Bentley Joyce Bergin Kathleen Bradlee Anne Callahan Marilyn Connell Joanne Dearlove Ann Downs Rosemarie Duane Carol Falgiano Kerry Farrell Julie French Lynn Fulton Nancy Gardner Peggy Gottschall Anne Hall Peg Harsh Mary Lou Higgins Suzanne Kitz Laurie Koehn Helen Lyons Elaine Merhar Kathy Myers Bethany Normoyle Patty Obrecht Ann Pohl Kay Shaw Mila Solanet Laura Stevenson Michelle Terry Mary Ellen Tighe Maggie Vazquez Chris Weber

Director Peggy Gottschall Medical Director Dr. A. Joseph Woodring, MD Board of Directors Therese Bentley Joanne Dearlove Ann Downs Jack Finley Cathy Samoylo Mike Squyres

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Volunteers – The Heart of Birthright Volunteers are indeed the heart of Birthright, but it is their commitment that is the backbone. The one who says, “When I have time, I’ll help,” will never do it. Ra-ther, it is the one whose laundry is piling up, or whose dinner is late because a young woman needs help, who makes Birthright what it is. “Lukewarm” is not a description that fits, and “letting Louise do it” is not the Birthright attitude. Al of us believe strongly that this is God’s work, and although we don’t preach or

talk to the girl about God, we do talk to God about the girl. We pray that we will be able to discern her most important need, that we will be sensitive to what she doesn’t say, and that we can show her the same love that He would. If you are

interested in giving three hours a week to save a baby’s life, please call us to vol-unteer. Office: 610-436-0773 birthrightwestchester@gmail.com

Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner

On Sunday April 3, the Exton Knights of Columbus St. Pope John XXIII Coun-cil # 5671 http://www.extonkofc.us/index.html held their annual Spaghetti Dinner to benefit Birthright of West Chester. They have held this fundraiser since opening the West Chester Birthright Office 34 years ago. A large crowd turned out to enjoy spaghetti, meatballs, bread, salad, and des-serts.

Salads Desserts

The spaghetti and meatballs were prepared by the Knights themselves with many donations, and this year, the Birthright Volunteers baked all the wonderful desserts. Many baskets were raffled off at the fundraiser. Everyone enjoyed the evening, and the leftover food was taken to the St. Agnes Day Room.

Guests Raffle Baskets

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A Fond Farewell to a Local Birthright Legend Betty Ann Daley has been a Birthright Volunteer for 37 years. After attending an open seminar for young pregnant women which was staffed by only Planned Parenthood and a local abortion clinic, she knew she had to do sometime soon. Betty Ann opened a Birthright Office in Phoenixville which closed after only two years. A year later she opened an Office in Pottstown, and it is still in operation. The Pottstown Office with Betty Ann at the helm has helped uncountable girls and women with their pregnan-cy needs. Each Birthright Office serves a different cliental, and the Pottstown Office fills a huge need in that city. After a year as co-director, Carol Bell has become the new director of the Pottstown Office.

Betty Ann Daley and Carol Bell Betty Ann and President Reagan

In 2013, Betty Ann received the Sally Lee Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pottstown YWCA for her lifelong commitment to helping others in need. She delivered Meals on Wheels, She taught CCD, she initiated an Outreach Program when she saw the needs of local food pantries and ministries. She has many other chari-table credits to her name.

Along with Cathy Samoylo, Joanne Dearlove, and Judy Wood. Betty Ann worked untiringly to get the West Chester Birthright Office off the ground for which we are extremely grateful. When President Reagan was in office, he wanted to meet someone in the pro-life arena who worked in a crisis pregnancy center. Betty Ann was chosen to meet him on January 22, when the March for Life was taking place. Betty Ann her husband Rich have been married for 58 years; they have seven children, 16 grandchildren, and are expecting their sixth greatgrandchild in June.

Our Spring Wish List

Diapers - sizes Newborn and 3 Baby wash, lotion, diaper ointment Baby bottles - 8oz and 4oz Small infant toys, eg. rattles, teething rings Pacifiers Wipes Onesies - sizes 9 and 12 mos. Spring and Summer baby clothes - sizes Newborn, 9 and 12 mos. Spring and Summer maternity clothes What to Expect the First Year book

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A Tribute to Krysta Ballam

Our Birthright office is deeply saddened with the death of one of our own wonderful volunteers, Krysta Ballam. Krysta, young and recently married, was a loving and kind person who touched the hearts of everyone that knew her. Krysta first came into the Birthright office as a scared and overwhelmed college student who had found out that she was preg-nant. She loved her baby from the very beginning. She was able to step outside her own needs of love and affection for the little one inside her. She wanted her baby to have a stable, nurturing home and upbringing which she felt she could not provide, de-spite her best intentions. The issues of being young, single, alone and having little support herself made her feel strongly that this would not be the right way to raise a baby. Krysta exhibited a firm faith in God and His support of her decision. It is impressive that someone so young actually cared what God thought. Making an adoption plan for her baby was a truly difficult decision for Krysta with many tearful conversations here at Birthright. And although it nearly broke her, Krysta did make that decision. Her love for her child was so great that she was able to sacrifice her own desires. Happily, the child has the caring and amazing parents and home that Krysta had hoped for. Krysta went on to finish college and work. She met the love of her life- Andrew- a kind, supportive and good hearted man. They enjoyed running and hiking and a love of music. And ever the generous and thoughtful person, Krysta had decided to try to give back to Birthright in the last cou-ple of years as a volunteer. She felt it was important to help other girls that might be facing what she had faced. She wanted to provide some hope and comfort and help in any way that she could. Krysta’s early and unexpected death from pregnancy complications is made more tragic in that she had made it through some really difficult times and was now in a truly happy time of her life. She was enjoying her life with Andrew and looking forward, with so much yearning, to her upcoming baby. But her short life has impacted many. The volunteers of Birthright extend our deepest sympathy to Andrew, his family and Krysta’s family. Krysta is a hero that came into our lives and changed all of us with her courageous love. She will be remembered and sorely missed.

There were many memorial donations made in Krysta’s honor including: Edward Kaier Gary & Sue Klein Sheila & Len Halpern Mr. & Mrs. James Robers

Mary C. Shaw Sam & Susan Ballam Andrew Ballam Mr. & Mrs. John Hamblett Cooke & Beiler Henry & Betty Bulitt Laurie Landsburg Suzanne Kits Sarah Zwigenbaum Lonnie Oreman Natalie Cappelli Angel Jones

Lynn Klein Marilyn Connell Peggy Gottschall Sally Austin Theresia McCaslin Lynne Klein Laurie Landsburg Sarah Zweignbaum

Lonnie Oerman Natalie Cappell Angela Jones Therese Bentley Anonymous

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Downs Mr. & Mrs. John Carty Glenn Burtch, JW Pepper Mr. & Mrs. John Hebden

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rychlak Henry & Betsy Bullitt Mr. & Mrs. Niels Jonaitis Rev Edmund Sherrill, Church Farm School Dr. & Mrs. Keith Superdock

MEMORIALS for Loved Ones

With sincere gratitude we acknowledge the family and friends who have made a gift in memory of their deceased loved ones. Birthright is able to give love and hope to mothers in need because of the generosity of our friends. In Memory of Gianna Mashett by: St. Patrick’s Knight of Columbus Council 13490 In Memory of Joan Golub, his wife by: Albert Golub In Memory of Frank Christenson by: Madeline Christenson In Memory of Jack Manning, her husband by: Peggy Manning In Memory of Joseph & Virginia Shea, his parents by: Rev. James Shea In Memory of Marilyn Dixon, his wife by: Richard R. Dixon In Memory of The deceased members of the Golub Family by: Albert Golub In Memory of Dr. James Shaller by: Dr. and Mrs. John Maher In Memory of John & Timothy Deane by: Gabrielle Deane In Memory of Florence Williamson by: Dino & Bruna Dotti In Memory of William J. Quinn by: Christina Quinn In Memory of Theresa O’Connor-Snyder by: Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Phillips In Memory of Jack Manning by: Mrs. Jack Manning

HONORARIUMS Joan Herald & the work done By Birthright by: Carol Ann Clark Ann Downs by: The Allen Family Charitable Trust Elaine Merhar, their aunt by: Mr. & Mrs. David Wascak Joyce Heinmenz by: Anonymous Tia Cox by: Tamar Stergion Mary Shane, his wife by: Samuel Shane

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GIFT-MATCHING CORPORATIONS American Charities Boeing EC Fund Combined Federal Campaign Microsoft Corporation General Electric GSK Merck Partnership for Giving Pfizer Prudential Founda-tion PSEG

United Way Verizon Founda-tion

A Letter from Doris Asante, Director of Ourbirthright of Ghana What a blessing to be able to serve the people of Ghana for almost thirteen years. I’d like to share a recent client’s story. You, our generous donors, have made so many stories like this possible and we are so grateful to you. It is your financial help and prayers that are saving babies 6,000 miles away in southwest Africa! “In June 2013, my husband and I were officially divorced when I found out I was pregnant. I al-ready had one child with no job. There was no way I was going to keep this baby under these cir-cumstances. A friend invited me to a women's retreat in her church to take my mind off what I was going through. The speaker that night happened to be a Birthright volunteer. I went to their office the next morn-ing and told them my story. They listened and offered help. I had a lot of praying to do. The ladies of Ourbirthright were by side and helped me work through my fears. Ourbirthright was always there to listen and even supported me on the day I delivered my baby boy. My ex- husband became my friend again, and we were remarried this January, 2016. I cannot express how blessed my life is and how thankful I am for the ladies of Ourbirthright who took the time to help me through it all.” Name Withheld

Birthright’s mission is to offer non-judgmental, compassionate support to encourage women to continue their pregnancies. Birthright treats each woman as an individual who deserves kindness and respect, as well as gives personal attention to her unique situation. Birthright is an interfaith, all-volunteer, non-profit agency—one of 500 chapters worldwide. It is completely dependent on donations for support. Birthright is a recognized IRS 501 C(3) Charity.

Street West Chester, PA 19382

610-436-0773

www.facebook.com/BirthrightWCPA www.youtube.com/BirthrightWCPA

“It is the right of every preg-nant woman to give birth, and the right of every child to be born.” ……...Birthright Charter

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID West Chester, PA Permit No. 378

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Office Hours

Monday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM National 24 hour Hotline: 800-550-4900 Tuesday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM West Chester 610-436-0773

Wednesday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Coatesville 610-384-3020

Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM United Way Donor Option # 03825

Friday 9:00 AM to 12 Noon Website: www.birthright.org/westchester Saturday 10:00 AM to 12 Noon Evenings by Appointment

Printed by The Chambers Group 610-993-8686

BIRTHRIGHT of West Chester is an entirely volunteer organization with no paid staff. All of the help we are able to offer our mothers comes from our amazing volunteers and our wonderful donors. CAN YOU HELP?

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