History Of PRC
The idea began on a return drive from a March for Life in Austin, Texas. What if our daughters got pregnant and didn’t feel that they could come to us? Where would they go? This is what Dolores Wolff and her companions asked. They knew that a young woman facing an unplanned pregnancy has a critical decision to make, one that will have a lasting impact, not only on the very life of her child, but on her own life as well.
They wanted the community to have a place where women could go to stop, think, listen, and receive help from volunteers in making that decision. In October, 1981, Birthright of Rosenberg/Richmond was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas, and chartered as an affiliate of Birthright International. The three charter members were Rosalie Byrd, Iris Hrncir, and Dolores Wolff.
Dolores Wolff was the first Director of Birthright of Rosenberg / Richmond, and began operations with 10 volunteers and the moral and financial support of several other friends. In the first year of operation, there were 37 clients, the following year 136 office visits and 80 pregnancy tests. In our 2004-05 fiscal year, there were 943 clients served, with 853 new pregnancy tests; 162 of our clients were considering abortion. In 2009 we served over 1380 clients between our two centers.
We have moved the center five times, with the last two moves taking us from 1200 sq. ft, to 2400, and now 3600 sq. ft. In 2007 we opened a second Center in Sugar Land hoping to expand our services to that area of the county. Then in 2010 the decision was made to consolidate to our largest center in Rosenberg/Richmond, extend our hours of service and become a limited medical clinic which will enable us to offer ultrasound to our clients. Our goal is to be running as a limited medical clinic operating 6 days a week and offering ultrasound to our abortion minded clients by the end of 2012.
Our budget has grown as well. In the early 1980’s the budget averaged $3- 3,500 and has steadily increased over the years. Our budget for the 2010 year is $279,000. After many years as an all-volunteer organization, the financial support of the community allowed us to begin, in 2001, to hire paid staff who are dedicated to our mission. While we continue to depend on volunteers to provide direct service to our clients, as well as help in many other ways, our paid staff members recruit and train volunteers, give them the support they need, and develop and administer new programs. In addition to our original program of pregnancy test peer counseling, we have added our Learn/Earn/Plan program and the Sexual Integrity program. Today we have 5 paid staff members: Executive Director, Client Service Coordinator, LEP Coordinator and two Office Managers.
In 1998 we separated from Birthright International and changed our name to Pregnancy Resource Center of Fort Bend County. This change was made only after much thought and prayer. We believe that our current affiliation with Heartbeat International allows us to better serve our clients. Our affiliation with national organizations that support pregnancy centers has allowed us to learn a tremendous amount from others around the country and to offer our clients the best most up to date and accurate information possible.
Perhaps even more important than all the ways we have changed are the ways we have remained the same. Our mission remains the same: to prevent abortion by offering women the information, spiritual encouragement, emotional support and practical help that will empower them to choose life for their children and sexual integrity for themselves.
