CPC’s Carey earns Respect for Life award – Terre Haute Tribune Star

Since 2008 the Wabash Valley Right to Life, based in Terre Haute, has presented a Respect for Life award to a person nominated by someone in the community.

At its annual Benefit Dinner held on Jan. 26 at OShaughnessy Hall, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, the WVRTL presented the 2016 Thomas J. Marzen Respect for Life award to Sharon Carey, executive director of the Crisis Pregnancy Center of the Wabash Valley. Criteria for receiving this award includes being dedicated to the sanctity of human life; longevity of service and having a servant attitude within a pro-life organization; faithfulness to the promised tasks related to pro-life work; and going the extra mile in the current year of recognition and involvement in additional community services.

Carey met all the criteria and more. She has served at the CPC of the WV in many different capacities since being hired in May of 1990. She has held her current position as executive director since 2001.

When Carey learned she had been nominated for the WVRTL Respect for Life award, she was surprised and appreciative. She thought of those the award represented all individuals who work so hard for the CPC to make an impact on the community. She said, Simultaneously I thought of the great opportunity to take this special award and give it to my Lord. He loves this community, and its evident in how Hes provided our new location to meet the needs of the community.

The most significant accomplishment of the CPC of WV happened in 2015 when it moved from the center on Poplar Street and into a new facility on Wabash Avenue, the largest free-standing pregnancy center in the nation. This new CPC is a 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility.

The whole community has been behind this project, stated Carey, because the CPC is aimed at the communitys needs. CPC has received a great outpouring of support from the community, especially with finances. The new facility cost a little less than $2 million and every bit came from local support. Built debt free, money came from individuals, churches, local grants and from businesses. Comments included: Weve seen the CPC work in our community and know that it makes our community better.

The board and staff chose this particular location because of it accessibility to college students, both female and male. Since moving to the new building, the client load has significantly increased, offering more medical services beyond the standard ultrasound to various STD testing and pap smears as directed by a doctor. The medical staff has also grown.

The person who nominated Carey for the Respect for Life award wrote: Sharon does not take these accomplishments lightly. She knows that it is by the grace of God that she has the vision, the support, and the resources needed to be successful. Sharon continually encourages the staff and volunteers to respect life, love the unborn and their parents, and live in a manner that would be pleasing to God.

Carey emphasized that the CPC is here to meet needs, to help with life choices the clients sexuality as well as pregnancy issues. Expanded services have opened opportunities for the CPC to give help and hope where its needed. For example, a negative pregnancy test might give a client a false sense of security. Peer-counselors talk with clients about their struggles of being sexually active. The discovery of an STD is a critical moment in life. They have to face the prospect of change and will often listen and adapt to a lifestyle adjustment.

The CPCs compassion ministries also add to community outreach. Creating Positive Relationships (CPR) reaches 5,000 to 6,000 middle and high school students in Vigo and surrounding counties with the advantages of abstinence. For the support of new moms and dads, programs include Encouraging Parents Together (EPT), Earn While You Learn (EWYL), and 24/7 Dads. Theres even a prison ministry called Inside/Out Dads.

Previous recipients of the Thomas J. Marzen Respect for Life award: Thomas J. Marzen (memorial), Msg. Lawrence Moran, Ron Curtis (founder of the CPC of WV), Cecelia Lundstrom, Donna Brinkley, Susan Graham, Rick Mascari and Evelyn Ring.

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CPC's Carey earns Respect for Life award - Terre Haute Tribune Star