An Important Message From Our Chairman
Dearest Friends of Heartbeat,
I hope this letter finds you well and filled with joy. As we continue our journey together in championing the cause of life, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. It is with immense hope and respect that I reach out to you today.
A History Of Impact
Our mission at Heartbeat of Columbiana County is driven by a profound belief in the value and dignity of every life, as well as the conviction that every woman deserves compassionate support and understanding. At Ava Women’s Center, Cornerstone Parenting Center and Freedom in Surrender, we strive to offer love and support for women facing unplanned pregnancies, providing them with the resources and encouragement they need to make informed decisions to choose life and embrace the journey ahead with confidence.
Thanks to the generous support of individuals like you, Heartbeat has made significant strides since opening as Potter’s Pregnancy Center in 1986. Our life-saving medical facility Ava Women’s Center opened in 2016, and since then 283 babies’ lives have been saved and 19 women have received Christ. Our family-changing parenting facility Cornerstone opened in 2017 as we expanded our services to parents who choose life for their babies. Heartbeat continues to provide essential services to countless women, fostering a community of support that uplifts and empowers.
Exciting New Leadership
The most recent and exciting addition to Heartbeat is our new Executive Director, Tere Rufener! Tere has been our Center Director since 2020, and she hit the ground running as our Executive Director by preparing for our beautiful 2024 spring banquet - Written in Secret…A life known by God. As the keynote speaker, she courageously and graciously shared a heartfelt reminder of all the women who need the services Heartbeat provides. Now Tere is speaking regularly with churches, women’s groups, teens and community groups advocating for life.
Tere is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of women in our community. The moment you meet her you know she is a compassionate and caring soul who loves Jesus and lives to serve Him with her life. With soft-spoken ways, Tere has the tenacity and courage needed to fight on the front lines to defend the lives of the unborn.
In 2017, after sharing her story of healing with us, Tere began our Freedom in Surrender program using the Surrendering the Secret Bible study. Now she is a national leader for Surrendering the Secret serving in Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan.
Tere has many plans for Heartbeat including a full-time medical staff working Monday thru Saturday to serve the women of our community who find themselves in unplanned pregnancies, creating a Freedom in Surrender Memorial Garden, and adding a Cornerstone Parenting Center volunteer coordinator.
A Plea for Help
While Heartbeat is blessed to have Tere with her strong work ethic and determination to empower women to choose life, Heartbeat’s need is ever-growing. If we cannot achieve our financial goals, sadly we may have to close our doors. We need the continued support of compassionate and dedicated individuals like yourself.
Today, I am reaching out with a heartfelt request. We need your help more than ever to keep our doors open! Here’s how you can make a difference:
1. Prayer: Your prayers are essential! Heartbeat’s staff is a wonderful blessing and work for significantly less pay than they would earn at a hospital. Our staff is often faced with difficult and heart-breaking situations. At times they must turn women away due to limited staffing availability which is due to a lack of funds. If care cannot be provided at Ava Women’s Center within 24 hours, the woman is referred to a sister center outside of our local area, in hopes she will reach out to make an appointment and make the longer drive. Please pray for funds to support a staff to fully care for the women who need Ava Women’s Center.
2. Financial Contributions: Your donations are vital in allowing us to provide essential services like
sonograms for at-risk mothers to see the heartbeats of their babies for the first time,
baby supplies,
parenting classes, and
healing from past abortions.
Every contribution, no matter the size, has a meaningful impact and helps us continue our work with the women who need it most.
3. Volunteer Opportunities: We are always in need of passionate volunteers to join our team. Whether it’s through providing direct support to clients, assisting with administrative tasks, or helping at events, your time and skills are invaluable. Volunteering is a powerful way to make a personal impact and be directly involved in our mission.
We understand that these are challenging times, and we are deeply appreciative of any support you can offer. There is never a gift too small or too large. Your involvement, whether through financial contributions or volunteer work, will help us to provide hope, care, and practical assistance to women facing difficult choices.
To make a donation or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.heartbeatcc.com, contact us directly at 330.386.3999 or via email at teresa@heartbeatcc.com. Our team is ready to answer any questions you may have and guide you on how you can contribute to empowering women to choose life. When you call, please ask about scheduling a Vision Tour of the Ava and Cornerstone facilities to get an up-close look at all that God is doing through Heartbeat!
Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of women and the precious lives they carry. Your compassion and commitment inspire us every day, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership in this important work.
Together for Life,
Vicki Kerr, Heartbeat of Columbiana County Board Chairman