Winding down the year always seems so busy. Last-minute shopping seems to come standard with checking email and doing “just a bit more work.” Part of me misses being a kid. Not for the gifts, but more for doing less. Remember getting out of school, having zero obligations, and feeling bored during the holidays? I hated it then. I think I'd love it now. The good people highlighted in this post, I bet they would appreciate some downtime as well. : ) When I read how much amazing work they've been doing, I wonder, am I doing all I can? And then I realize, that’s exactly what I should be asking all year long, are am doing all that I can?

We should all ask this question as the year ends. And we should keep asking it in 2024. See these great images from our photography contest, find out more about our scholarship winner, and the ministry that received our highest honor, the Presidential Award. In reviewing these highlights, let’s ask ourselves, "Are we doing all we can?" Keep scrolling and keep asking that question as you see pregnancy centers and leaders battling, literally, for life.

The Guy Condon Presidential Award 2023 

Presidential Award Recipient: Care Pregnancy Resource Center (CA)
Accepting: Dayna Homes, Executive Director

Roland Warren, President and CEO of Care Net, presented this award. Guy Condon was a past president of Care Net. Sadly, he was killed tragically in a car accident while returning from speaking at a pregnancy center banquet. Condon was an amazing inspiration for so many in terms of the work that he did over the years. Care Net honors him with the naming of this award.

The award is presented annually to the pregnancy center which has a holistic approach to client care. One who works to save the life of the unborn while focusing on healthy marriage, motherhood, fatherhood, and building strong, god-honoring families. These centers model Care Net’s Pro Abundant Life vision of engaging with local churches to make disciples for Jesus Christ.

Warren explained in presenting the award, that choosing a center for this award is never easy, and this year was no exception. Many centers have gone above and beyond to serve their clients and communities, but this center awarded tonight shines brightly in one particular area. They were chosen because of their innovative approach to building bridges with local churches through their “Life Tribes.” 

Their Life Tribes program reaches hundreds of young adults and teenagers annually in their community through youth groups and small-group studies with local churches. They work to educate young adults about who they are, what they believe, and why they believe it so that a massive decline will not only occur in abortion but also in gender confusion, broken identities, and many other areas that cause so much pain, as you likely see every day within your clients.

Dayna, you and your team at Care Pregnancy Resource Center in Visalia and Tulare, California, clearly place Christ at the center of your ministry and are being used by Him to accomplish a generational impact in your community. It is a joy and an honor to partner with you in ministry. We celebrate with you what God is doing through you. Congratulations, and thank you for your commitment to excellence. 

2023 Regent Scholarship Recipient: Monserrat Macias

Erin Forsythe, Vice President of Strategic Programs at Care Net awarded this year’s full-tuition four-year Regent Scholarship to Monserrat Macias, a driven and compassionate mom from Colorado Springs Colorado. Nominated by her parenting education mentors at the Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center, Monserrat is bilingual in English and Spanish and uses this skill in her own business which she established in February of 2020. In her business, Monserrat is a resource consultant for the Latino Community and removes the language barrier for this community, thereby empowering them. Her heart for her community, as well as her drive, dedication, and perseverance, were what led the Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center team to nominate Monserrat.

In her application for this scholarship, Monserrat stated:

I have always been faced with the uncertainty of being able to receive higher education. I was able to get help from past employers, and I was able to attend school for some time. I would love to go back and attain my business management degree. This is something that has always been a goal of mine to finish. I would also love to be the first in my family with a degree… The financial aspect has been what’s stopped me. Receiving an undergraduate degree from Regent University would help me attain this goal. I am currently a business owner and I focus on helping the Underserved Latino Community in my area. Having my degree would open many doors for me in regards to my business. I would be able to help so many more people. My community is my passion, and having higher education would allow me to use that to help more and more people every day.

Throughout her application and interview, Monserrat’s servant's heart toward reaching her community was clear. Monserrat was unfortunately not able to join us in person at the Care Net National Conference in Mobile, Alabama, but we still celebrate her through a live Zoom call. Monserrat tearfully received her scholarship award from representatives of both Care Net and Regent University. She shared, “This is such a big deal for me, and I’m very grateful to be able to continue my education and be able to help more people because of it.”

2023 Care Net Conference Affiliate Photo Contest

Before the Care Net National Conference, we asked you to submit your best “day in the life” photo from your pregnancy center. We received some awesome pictures and have included a few for you to get a glimpse into these beautiful stories from centers across the country.

Grand Prize Winner: Pregnancy Care Center, TN

“Multi-Generational”
A single mother of 3 brought her 15-year-old daughter to the Center for a pregnancy test. The mom was overwhelmed and making plans for her daughter to have an abortion. Both mom and daughter received personal support and pregnancy-decision coaching. Together, they decided to choose life! You can see that sweet child in the middle between her grandma and her mother.

 2nd Place Winner: Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center, Iowa

“Earn While You Learn” – a mom and her young baby attending her parenting class.

3rd Place Winner: Bakersfield Pregnancy Center, CA

A client and the father of the baby receiving a limited OB ultrasound to determine gestational age. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s photo contest!

Thank you for following along on the highlights from our National Conference. We're grateful to have these moments each year and look forward to the next one in 2024 when we travel to Colorado.