Research on Virtue Media ads shows effectiveness

Here is some research on Charlotte, North Carolina, which appears to indicate the effectiveness of pro-life ad campaigns in reducing  abortion rates:

North Carolina is heavily Democratic and its legislature is socially liberal; unlike Pennsylvania, no pro-life legislation is brought before the legislators. Charlotte’s population was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 709,441 in 2009, while the Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009 population of 1,745,524.^[1]

The median age of Charlotte residents is 34, and median family income is $59,452. The population is 55% White, 35% African-American, and 11% Latino. On religion, 69% of those in North Carolina reported in 2008 that “religion is very important in their lives,” and 49% say they attend religious services at least once a week.^[2]

In 2006-07, North Carolina Right to Life targeted the Charlotte metropolitan area, where about a third of North Carolina’s 30,000 abortions a year are performed, with a three-week media campaign by Virtue Media, entitled Heart to Heart. The $66,000 campaign was a measurable success; in 2006-07, the most recent year for which North Carolina RTL has figures, there was a decrease of 1,853 abortions over the previous year’s 11,000, a reduction of over 16%; only one other region in the state had a decrease in the abortion rate; the others had an increase in abortions.[3] They are persuaded that their media campaign made the difference.

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[1] Data is taken from “Charlotte, North Carolina,” in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina#cite_note-uscensusbureau1-1): "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2008/CBSA-EST2008-01.csv. Retrieved 2009-09-29.

^[2] “How Religious Is Your State?” a part of the June 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (http://pewforum.org/How-Religious-Is-Your-State-.aspx)

[3] From the Ex. Dir.’s conversations with Barbara Holt, President of North Carolina RTL, November 2009 and September 23, 2010.

Vision for Life - Pittsburgh gets 501(c)(3) status!

The IRS informed us by letter yesterday that we have 501(c)(3) status, meaning that we can give tax-deductible receipts for donations. This will make fund-raising much easier, and reassure donors that they can deduct their donations from income in their income tax filings.

40 Days for Life Kickoff

I attended the kickoff of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigils at the abortion mill on Liberty Avenue, downtown, on Saturday. There were somewhere between 70 and 100 people there, including 5 or so anarchist counter-demonstrators. With Nikki Bruni's blessing, Edith and I handed out envelopes to everyone there, including Helen Cindrich, Fr. Joe Codori, Deacon Alex Wroblicky's father, a priest of the Byzantine Catholic Church, and the many people who organized the kickoff. Let's hope that word of the campaign leads to more donations.

Orthodox Clergy Association contributes to Vision for Life

Fr. John Abdalah, my priest, just let me know by phone that at the local Orthodox Clergy Association meeting, they voted to donate $100 to VFL. They don't have a big budget, but Fr. John suggested going to the Web site of the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops of America and downloading all of the contact info for clergy in the Pittsburgh area. We could then call, tell them about the Clergy Association's donation, and ask them if they would be willing to distribute envelopes in their churches, ask their parish councils for donations, etc. Thanks, Fr. John and your fellow clergy!

Publish Post

Chris's article on Vision for Life has appeared in the Orthodox magazine The Word

I wrote an article for our church's monthly magazine, The Word, the September issue. It describes Vision for Life and invites donations and volunteer help. Check it out! It's on page 30.
September issue of The Word

Luncheon at the Duquesne Club

Heard Fr. Sirico speak about whether "social justice" had to mean "socialism." It doesn't, which was not a surprise. Saw Rich Benacci from Pennsylvanians for Human Life / SW region, and we greeted one another. Met some prominent Pittsburghers and was introduced by Marie as the Ex. Dir. to them. Very worthwhile meeting people I have only heard about. One individual talked at length about health care in Europe and Islamization -- serious problems for them, perhaps coming our way if we don't watch out. Asked a question of Fr. Sirico, one of two that were asked, and he answered as I thought he would -- and I agreed with him 100%. Good man, and a good take on our problems with govt. take-over of everything.

Working on the "Staying Informed" page of the Web site

Natalie and I have to work out a strategy to use the social media to get the word out about Vision for Life. To help with that, there is a "Stay Informed" page on the Web site (www.visionforlifepgh.org). We'll put links to our Vision for Life Facebook page, and to this blog, so that supporters can get an idea of what's happening. National Right to Life had great success with its Facebook advertising, too. We'll have to look at that.

Going to hear conservative luncheon speaker today

I was invited by Greg Wrightstone to hear a conservative speaker on the topic, "Does Social Justice Require Socialism?" at the Duquesne Club today. Should be good; a number of friends, actual or potential, of Vision for Life will probably be there.

Met Millie Johnson from Allegheny Center Alliance Church last evening, purely by coincidence

Marie and I are to meet Millie Johnson tomorrow. Millie is responsible for women's ministry at Allegheny Center Alliance Church on the North Side. Last night, Edith and I met her quite by chance. She was chatting with our next-door neighbor, Renee. It was good to meet her, and I think our meeting tomorrow will go well.

E-commerce site is up and running

Well, after weeks and months of uncontrollable delay, we finally have an e-commerce page on our Web site up and running. People can now contribute to Vision for Life - Pittsburgh over the Web. Now we have to work out a strategy to drive them to the Web site, especially young, pro-life people who are comfortable donating on-line.

At this point, I don't think anybody has donated on-line, so we don't know exactly how it will work with our membership database and our bank account. It's supposed to be seamless -- the money goes in the bank and the data from the donor goes in our database. I'll have to try it out, or ask a Board member to try it out.

Met Tom Peterson, and opened bank account

Today Marie and I met Tom Peterson, founder and owner of Virtue Media (www.virtuemedia.org). A humble and zealous servant of God, Tom made himself available to us as a source of advice and information for pro-life media campaigns. We picked his brain and discussed the discussions he and we have been having with church leaders in Pittsburgh. He had some good advice, and looked at our mock-up of a Web site and offered his opinions. It is good to be working with him.

We went to the bank today, too, and opened up our account. We are now ready to receive donations. Once we have a P.O. Box and a functioning Web site, we'll be ready to go.

Chris Humphrey

Working on the IRS 501(c)(3) application

Vision for Life - Pittsburgh, a newly incorporated non-profit dedicated to changing hearts and minds on abortion, and helping abortion-vulnerable women choose life, is in the process of seeking 501(c)(3) status, making it tax exempt and able to issue tax-deductible receipts.

Natalie and Chris have been slaving all afternoon over the documents. The end is in sight!