The Presence of Support
On Saturday, March 29th the SWFL pro-life community gathered in support of Community Pregnancy Clinics at the Ritz-Carlton, Tiburón in Naples for the Heart of the Community Gala. More than simply a formal event of speeches and fundraising, the heart of the evening reflected something far more significant: the presence of a community committed to defending life and supporting mothers.
The event featured several speakers, including one of the most influential pro-life voices, Matt Walsh. Previous speakers of the event include Liz Wheeler, Michael Knowles, Kayleigh McEnany, Tucker Carlson, and Ben Carson. But for those attending, the night does not simply revolve around which prominent speaker is being featured.
Those gathered are there for the opportunity to contribute to the defense of life and make a difference in their communities. Their presence reflected a shared belief that support, prayer, and sustained work can significantly change the lives of women facing a crisis pregnancy. A true example that the pro-life movement is not built on a foundation of rhetoric, but on communities willing to show up, give generously, and make that support real.
Community Pregnancy Clinics provides life-affirming services from Gainesville, Sarasota, Fort Myers, to Naples; in addition to their mobile clinics that meet women in crisis where they are most needed. It is true that their efforts and wins are quantifiable. But their success is more than simply data. Every “number” is actually a life which goes on to become member of our community that has the ability to go on and have a positive impact in the world. Every story is a mother who was able to protect her child’s life.
One such story was shared on the stage which has hosted so many influential voices. A Naples mother shared her testimony about how Community Pregnancy Clinics had been there for her 18 years ago when, as a pregnant teenager, she found herself at a crossroads. CPC became the support and community she needed in order to choose life for her son. That baby boy, whose life was saved nearly two decades ago, sat in the audience and was able to witness the strength and courage it took his mother to choose life. With the help of CPC, two lives and two souls were saved.
That testimony is not a singular, emotional moment, but a reflection of a broader reality. Community Pregnancy Clinics is an example of the type of dedication and work that is happening across our state and nation that yields real results. In 2024, it was estimated that $452 million in services and goods were provided and over 1 million were served by pregnancy clinics. Research published by the National Institutes of Health reflects that women who walk through the doors of pregnancy clinics are 29% less likely to have an abortion compared to those who do not. In short, community matters, and it saves lives.
As Planned Parenthoods across the nation continue to close, life-affirming pregnancy clinics are more necessary than ever before. The truth is that the fight to save lives is an ever-shifting terrain. Over 60% of abortions are done via abortion pills. Speaker Matt Walsh spoke at length about the monumental task to save lives in his speech, admonishing those who continue to turn a blind eye to the evils of abortion. “You want to pretend it’s over…the genocide continues…it lumbers on grotesque as ever.” But resources such as Community Pregnancy Clinics provide life-saving measures to women who experience abortion pill regret by providing immediate consultation and progesterone administration by trained medical staff.
Community Pregnancy Clinics stands as a beacon of hope in a culture that has too often embraced despair and death. Since their opening in 1974, the organization has helped save more than 24,000 children. Their staff work tirelessly to provide hope for parents who have been told by society that there is none. But these efforts cannot continue on conviction alone. It depends on the support, generosity, and involvement of the communities around it. As St. Maximilian Kolbe said, “the most deadly poison of our time is indifference.” If we truly believe that unborn children possess the fundamental right to life, then we must also be willing to sustain the institutions and the movement that help defend life.
To learn more about CPC, its mission, and how you can support their valuable work, visit the link below.
