Recognizing people making a difference
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Press ReleasesMargaret "Peggy" Hartshorn Declared Winner of Life Prizes Pro-Life AwardHeartbeat International President Among Recipients of $600,000 in Prizes Awarded to Greatest Heroes in the Movement Natick, MA - Natick, MA - The Gerard Health Foundation is pleased to announce Margaret "Peggy" Hartshorn, Ph.D. as a winner of its inaugural Life Prizes awards, granted to six individuals or groups that have made unsurpassed strides in preserving and upholding the sanctity of human life. Mrs. Hartshorn has dedicated her life to the pro-life ministry of helping women in crisis pregnancies since 1973 in a number of capacities. She and her husband Michael founded Pregnancy Decision Health Centers in Columbus, OH where Peggy served as Chairman of the Board for more than 20 years. In 1986, Mrs. Hartshorn joined the board of Heartbeat International and grew the ministry into a preeminent network of more than 1,000 pregnancy resource centers spread throughout the world. She is in her 15th year as president of this critical vital pregnancy support network that has directly saved the lives of innumerable unborn children and their mothers from abortion. Cathy Ruse, Executive Director of Life Prizes, offered her congratulations: "Few people have held the hand of a woman deciding whether or not she will choose life for her unborn child. None have directly saved as many lives as Peggy and her network of volunteers and the invaluable practical and emotional support needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy. We applaud Peggy for her ministry and dedication to advocate on behalf of women and children." Peggy Hartshorn accepted graciously: "I feel privileged to accept one of the first Life Prizes awards as a representative of the thousands of people who provide compassionate care and resources every day so that countless women can courageously choose life for their unborn children. It is my hope that the Life Prizes program inspires the next generation of young people who are crucial to sustaining and spreading the network of local support that Heartbeat International has worked so hard to make available, so that abortion becomes unwanted, even unthinkable." The Life Prizes winners were measured by their success in saving lives and selected for best demonstrating their leadership and progress in pro-life achievements through public advocacy, scientific research, legal action, outreach and public discourse activities. More than 100 nominations were submitted to the Gerard Health Foundation which worked in conjunction with Cathy Ruse and the Selection Advisory Committee to evaluate each nomination and select the recipients. Members of the committee who brought their own advocacy expertise and knowledge of the pro-life movement include Archbishop of Denver Charles Chaput, the Reverend Dr. Alveda King, Ambassador Ray Flynn, and Professor Hadley Arkes of Amherst College. The $600,000 in total prizes will be divided among all of this year's recipients, including the other five winners:
"The accomplishments of these pro-life heroes are diverse, valiant, and nothing short of inspiring," stated Raymond Ruddy, President of the Gerard Health Foundation. "They are the movement's most successful champions of life and their achievements will inspire future pro-life generations to be bold and brilliant in undertaking the many challenges that lie ahead in spreading a culture of life." After the initial nomination process made on behalf of more than 100 esteemed nominators, the Life Prizes' Selection Advisory Committee assisted the Gerard Health Foundation in the difficult job of narrowing the finalists down to secure the six prominent recipients. The awards will be given at a ceremony held in Washington, DC on January 23, 2009. More information is available at www.LifePrizes.org About Life Prizes |