Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is pleased to introduce a new mobile unit which will serve pregnant women and new mothers throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. As part of the statewide government-funded Real Alternatives program, the ‘Beautiful Beginnings’ van will provide pro-life options counseling and vital support services.
Amy Stoner, Director of CSS Community-Based Services, Kevin Bagatta, Esq., President and CEO of Real Alternatives, and Tom Lang, Vice President and Program Director of the Real Alternatives program in Pennsylvania, will be on hand for the brief ceremony along with pregnant women and new moms served by the program locally. Bishop John J. McIntyre will bless the van immediately following the ceremony.
10:00 a.m.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
“The ‘Beautiful Beginnings’ mobile unit extends the reach of our counselors and resources beyond site-based engagement. We are no longer limited by where we have offices, or whether a prospective client can get to us. Now we are going out to them, in their neighborhoods, even in their own homes,” says Amy Stoner, Director of Community-Based Services. “The ‘Beautiful Beginnings’ van is a visible witness to our support for pregnant moms, and positions us better than ever before to ensure that they have every opportunity to make the choice for life. With seasoned counselors now deployed right where the action is, this is truly front line pro-life work.”
CSS has been a Real Alternatives service provider for 18 years and has nearly 30 staff members in its Community-Based Services division who are trained as Real Alternatives counselors. Last year, CSS was acknowledged as the top provider in PA with 3,357 pregnant women served.
Editor’s Note: For more information on Catholic Social Services, please visit www.cssphiladelphia.org/ or call 215-587-3590. For information on Real Alternatives, please visit http://www.realalternatives.org/ or call 1-888-LIFE AID.
Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747