Home On Hawthorne campaign making progress

FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Pregnancy Resource Center (FPRC) will host an Information Open House and Tour on Saturday, Aug. 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 125 E Hawthorne Street to update the community on the progress of their “Home on Hawthorne” campaign.

In December 2015, FPRC purchased a building at 121-129 E. Hawthorne that, when remodeled, will enable them to expand their current pregnancy care services, provided since 2001, to include a free primary medical clinic serving moms in the community.

More than $140,000 was raised for the down payment on the building and donors and friends committed monthly capital c

ampaign donations, apart from the building donation allowing for the costs of the yearlong permit process which is nearing closure.

FPRC executive director Carolyn Koole said, “Going medical is no small task. FPRC had a vision for it before I came in 2014. With the support of our community, we want to make sure to have the best facility possible with the greatest potential to serve the additional needs of moms experiencing unplanned pregnancies directly impacted by the loss of our hospital and some related OBGYN services."

According to Koole, FPRC hosted over 815 client visits in 2016. They provided free pregnancy tests and scheduled ultrasounds via a mobile clinic while also offering free educational support and helpful parenting resources.

"When our clinic opens, along with free pregnancy tests, we will also provide free onsite ultrasounds, and soon STD testing and well mother checks," said Koole. "Client numbers could increase by 20 percent once the clinic is open."

To assist with the capital campaign, a steering committee was created to help raise awareness of FPRC’s mission to provide life affirming care to moms in crisis-related pregnancies and the benefit of the services planned at FPRC’s free primary care medical clinic.

The committee is composed of Sue Dingess, Ken Follis, RoseMarie and Bob Helling, Rick Koole, Steve Lefevre, Michael Robinson, John Rutherford, Joe Sokol and Andy Vanderlaan.

The goal of the committee is to raise major gifts toward a $600,000 campaign goal by Sept. 15, allowing construction to begin immediately with completion in mid-year 2018.

Donations to the campaign may come as cash gifts or pledges, stocks, annuities, CDs, loans, matching gifts or named beneficiary gifts. Ken and Jody Follis, Jim and Miriam Kirk, and Bob and RoseMarie Helling contributed generously to help kick off the campaign and to insure its success either in cash donations, stock gifts/pledges, signed monthly obligations, matching funds or investments in FPRC at 5 percent annual interest return.

FPRC saw a July $10,000 matching gift met before the end of the month. They have a donor waiting to match $25,000 in new donations to the campaign through the end of August and another matching gift of $25,000 in September for new campaign donations. The current amount committed for the construction project is past the midway mark at $333,438.

To show progress in the campaign, FPRC plans to post a donation thermometer at the Hawthorne property. Those wanting to RSVP for the Open House and Tour or to learn more about the campaign may visit the administrative office at 123 E. Hawthorne St., email [email protected] or call Carolyn at (760) 728-4105 ext. 10.