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| Hello Friend,
I have a wonderful opportunity for you! But first, I need to tell you about what our courageous pro-life students are doing to support life.
A little background: In 2011, our founder, John-Paul Deddens, sent me, Kevin Grillot, to Chicago to mentor students into pro-life leaders.
When I got to Loyola, the university did not promote any pregnancy resources on campus. With a Planned Parenthood right across the street, I knew we had to act fast.
Since then, our mentored pro-life students created a pregnancy resource pamphlet, got pregnancy resource centers on the school’s health center website, and regularly volunteer at a nearby maternity home. They have done a great job of building a culture of life there!
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| | | Fast forward to now, this Fall.
An unofficial student group, calling themselves Students for Reproductive Justice, started protesting pro-life beliefs on campus and actively promoting abortion.
In October, they posted this on social media: “WE WON!!! Because of our demands, the Wellness Center agreed to remove the crisis pregnancy center from the resources on their website.”
These pro-choice students actually celebrated taking away pregnancy resources for anyone looking to choose life!
Without Students for Life of Illinois, this is where the story would end...
...scared, pregnant women would be abandoned.
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| | Before I go any further, it is important to recognize what is at stake.
Without resources, society drives women to dispose of their children, especially on campus.
This past March, Lindsay, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Illinois, hid her pregnancy through all 9 months.
Then, in her dorm bathroom, she went into labor.
On campus, she gave birth to her son.
Still trying to hide the pregnancy, she strangled her newborn baby to death.
Lindsay is facing 75 years in jail and her son is dead.
Our culture, our world does not have to be this way!
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| | With SFLI, amazing things can happen.
Last year at Christmas, I shared with you about Ashley who was a freshman, also at the University of Illinois. Pressured to have an abortion, Ashley came to us.
With SFLI, Ashley chose life and had a beautiful daughter named Mary.
Just weeks ago, we threw a party for Mary’s first birthday and Ashley remains on track to graduate.
Life is at stake everyday on campus.
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| | Now, back to what is happening at Loyola…
Shocked, disappointed, and frustrated by the removal of resources, pro-life students turned to SFLI.
“What do we do? How do we respond?”
SFLI mentors students into skilled leaders exactly so they can effectively respond.
In just days, our student leaders met with the director of the Wellness Center and got a pregnancy resource center back on Loyola’s website.
Junior pro-life leader, Rosie, said “they want to take away resources, so we are just going to give the campus more.”
With SFLI, that is exactly what Rosie did. In November, she organized a pregnancy resource fair on campus drawing over 50 students and 2 pregnant students, who are choosing life!
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| | Without our constant presence, the culture of life that we’re building at Loyola would have suffered a major setback.
As I write this letter to you, a pregnant freshman at Loyola just reached out to SFLI for help!
Here’s your incredible opportunity to save lives.
SFLI goes to campus exactly to protect this young, pregnant student and her child.
Our work has real consequences for real lives. Yet, without your support we cannot go. We all have a part in building a culture of life.
Today, you can do your part with Rosie and all of SFLI in saving lives!
On behalf of all we serve, thank you!
Lovin' Life,
Kevin Grillot Executive Director |
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