More than 700 people brought the Cana Ballroom to life Tuesday, celebrating the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center’s (HCPCC) 37th year of helping young moms and families navigate some of the most challenging decisions of their lives.
The theme for the event was based on scripture found in Eph. 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece” — emphasizing that the staff at the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center see each person, born and unborn, as God’s handiwork.
Emcees Steve and LaDonna Mack opened the gala by stating that all life has dignity and all life matters. Pastor Eric Waters then led a prayer to reinforce this message.
Kathlin Jauregui, HCPCC board chair, showcased all HCPCC has achieved in the past 12 months, including a soon-to-open pregnancy care center in Leon Springs. The opening is slated for Nov. 1, with a ribbon cutting coming sometime in the new year.
The HCPCC annual budget must increase by an additional $275,000 to cover the cost of the care center.
Jauregui underscored the importance of these centers and everything that happens in them, from a 24-hour nurse hotline — more than 60 % of service inquiries occur outside of traditional office hours — to sonograms, pregnancy tests, pre- and antenatal care, layette items, car seats and parental education.
None of HCPCCs clients pay a penny for any of the services.
“As a result of our services, 81% of the women who come to our centers choose life,” Jauregui said, to enthusiastic applause from the audience.
She touched on the changing norms of creating relationships now that Gen Z is coming into adulthood.
“This new generation of adults build relationships online first, before meeting and trusting people in real life,” she said. HCPCC has had to accommodate for that by ensuring the website offers everything a panicked mom (or dad)-to-be might need.
The highlight of the event was a short video produced by Driskill Studios that featured a young couple’s struggle to come to terms with an unplanned pregnancy and how HCPCC helped them navigate through those turbulent months.
Many people think of unplanned pregnancies affecting only teenagers. But in this scenario, a young married couple who had just moved and were underemployed tackle the life-changing news that they were expecting a baby.
The film also underlined the role of the staff, nurses and ancillary support staff.
Lulu Belz, HCPCC development director, finished the event by asking, “Did you know there are just over 3.5 million births in the U.S. every year, and about 50% of them are unplanned pregnancies? So, just over 1.7 million couples are going to ask themselves, ‘What are we going to do?’ We want to be the one who answers the question.”
Belz said in the past year alone, HCPCC has helped over 700 single moms and families.
“Your financial involvement allows us to have quality staff,” she said. “With the third center opening up, there will surely be more people. We share the facts on pregnancy. We provide resources, and we do it all through the love of Christ.”
She said there is an urgency for the care center to be ready when calls come in.
“It is costly for us to have Google ads, it is costly for us to have a 24/7 nurse hotline, but that’s where we need to be, and that’s what we want,” she said, adding, “We want to be on the frontline, and we cannot do it without you.”
As the HCPCC celebrates its 37th year, its commitment to supporting young moms and families appears unwavering. The gala served as a powerful reminder of the positive impact it has on countless lives.
With the opening of the new center in Leon Springs, HCPCC is poised to reach even more individuals in need — offering hope, resources and a compassionate community.
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