History:
The CPC Women’s Health Resource centers were first organized in January of 1986, when a small nucleus of concerned Northwest Ohio people came together in an attempt to meet the needs of women/couples who were in unplanned pregnancy and were looking for some support and assistance. The original Board of Trustees first called the ministry the Northwest Ohio Crisis Pregnancy Center. The organizers began with a phone Hotline and took calls from women who needed pregnancy testing. In July of 1986, the first center was opened in Bryan with Mindy Schaffner, who was then the Williams County Health Commissioner, as the acting director.
A few months later, Linda Payton became the full-time executive director, and shortly after that, in January of 1987, expanded the ministry to a second office in Wauseon. She remained director for about 8 months until she married and moved out of the area. In September of 1987, Judy Van Wagner became the executive director and has remained in that position until the present.
In December of 1987, Judy expanded the ministry yet again when the Defiance center was opened. All of the centers have had at least three locations, and some four, over the years.
The free services initially provided were pregnancy testing, material assistance, and spiritual and emotional counsel. Over the years, the services have expanded to include limited obstetrical ultrasound, sexually transmitted disease/infection (STD/STI) testing for men and women, Earn While You Learn parenting classes, birthing classes, and breastfeeding classes. The ministry is staffed with about 100 volunteers, as well as ten paid staff people, most of whom are part-time. Together, they are responsible for the day-to-day operation and providing the services of the ministry. Many volunteers also help to keep the operating costs down, which is a blessing to the board, the ministry supporters, and the clients and patients.
The Board of Trustees is comprised of 12 members who have a heart for the unborn and a love for those who are in need of a savior. All are residents of the Northwest Ohio four-county area. They represent many different walks of life, education, business, law, medicine, ministry and labor. The board is responsible to help give direction and vision to the director and the ministry as a whole.
The CPC is funded completely by individuals, churches, organizations, and businesses. We receive no government funding for the ministry portion of our programs. If you wish to donate to our 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable ministry, click here. This will guide you in how to make an on-line donation through PayPal. You will receive a tax deductible receipt upon our receiving your gift.
Mrs. Van Wagner also founded the healthy life choices program, Project Respect, in the fall of 1987. The first classes were offered as a pilot in 4 area schools, with money received from a State Education Department grant. There were less than 1,000 students in those classes, but with grants from the federal government, the numbers increased to over 15,000 before the allocations began to decrease. In 2009, with less than half of the previous allocations, over 8,000 students were taught about the value of making good choices and respecting themselves and others. Presently, Project Respect needs $100,000 per year to continue at the current level. Your donations are needed and valued. If you should like to become a supporter of this program that speaks words of hope, encouragement, and healthy living to teens, their parents, and local educators, you may go to the “Get Involved” tab on our home page.
If you have questions or comments about the CPC Women’s Health Resource ministry or the many ways you might become involved, such as a prayer partner, event helper, handyman, an office counselor, a telephone volunteer, or in giving to help partner with us in the life-saving and life-changing work that we do every day, please click on the “Get Involved” tab on our home page and follow the instructions.
CPC Women’s Health Resource is grateful for the support of so many over the years since we first opened in 1986. The support of those people in praying for us, volunteering with us, and giving sacrificially to us, has allowed us to minister to tens of thousands of people and save many hundreds of babies. To hear some of the stories from our clients, go to our home page and click on “Stories of Hope”.
Thank you for checking out our CPC Organization’s History page.
