Thanks to Dr. Maben’s Medical Office located at the Alight Center, women are able to receive no-cost pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and STD/STI testing and treatment. Diana Deleon, RN joined our staff in 2019 and has been the Nurse Manager since 2020. In addition to providing medical services to Alight Center clients, Diana is building relationships within our community in an effort to create a network of help to those we are committed to serving. By working with community organizations; college, high school, and middle school medical offices; local Ob/Gyns; family doctors; pediatricians; and hospitals she is building connections and in-roads to reach those women facing unintended pregnancies.

In order for Diana to accomplish this, medical office hours have increased from 10 hours a week in 2022 to 30 hours a week in 2023. This allows for 20 more clients to receive medical services each week. It also provides Diana with more time to interact with medical personnel and community leaders in our area.

We have already begun to see results from developing these relationships in Columbia and Greene County. Just this week the Alight Center received a referral for a girl who is choosing to carry her baby and is interested in learning more about adoption. We are hopeful and encouraged by the positive responses that both Diana and Jennifer (Alight Center Director of Client Services) have received from those they have met with.

We are excited to see Alight’s reach expand in 2023. But just as growth means we will have the opportunity to empower more women and men to make life-affirming choices, it also requires an increase in our budget. For 2023, we have budgeted $36,000 for Diana's salary. This breaks down to $3,000 per month, $750 per week, or $200 per day. 

The Alight Center is looking for donors to sponsor a day, a week, a month, or even a year’s salary to insure our Nurse Manager is able to meet the needs of women as Alight’s visibility grows. Together, we will make a great impact in New York State.

How far will your impact reach today?

Click Here to Give a Gift and Save a Life.

By Christina Bennett, Board Chairperson

 David was completely overlooked but went to gather food for his family as his dad said. However, Goliath was a known champion and the army of Israel was in fear for their lives.

David was so gutsy and realized who he was and said, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26. But he was discounted again and asked to tend his sheep.

David recounted his past victories to Saul and said let me fight. “Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God!” 1 Samuel 17:36.

I think it’s worth noting that, not only was Goliath a giant, about 12 feet tall, but he even had a person in front of him as a shield guard to protect himself. David attempted to use Saul’s armor, but he wasn’t used to it.

... what do we do?

The answer is very simple - we keep on fighting for life in the womb, as well as for those women who are facing difficult choices because they are pregnant - and don't want to be. Roe does not make abortion illegal, it simply returns the issue back to the states. The Justices were correct in their evaluation of the Constitution and their determination that abortion is not a constitutionally held right. With the overturning of Roe, 9 states have implemented bans on abortion from conception, and a number of states have trigger laws yet to go into effect that will restrict abortions at varying stages of pregnancy.  To see the complete list visit the Guttmacher Institute.

We know, however, that in NYS abortion remains protected, and legislation has been reinforced to not only protect abortion on demand, but to also ensure it is available to people across the nation. NY is committed to providing $30 million to support abortion providers, with $10 million designated to security and protection of those clinics. It has also passed legislation to study "Pregnancy Help Centers" (See the video below at minute mark 19:44 to hear what the governor thinks of centers like Alight). The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study and issue a report examining the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant women in New York and the impact of limited service pregnancy centers. In other words, are pregnancy centers meeting needs with respect to New York's Reproductive Health Act?

- Governor Hochul reinforces abortion rights in NY and takes aim at Pregnancy Help Organizations by signing Pregnancy Help Center Report legislation. Watch the video..

The Alight Center is still here to support and empower women, helping them know the truth about their pregnancy, the truth about their options, and the resources available to help them make a very difficult decision. No woman needs to feel alone, coerced, or so hopeless that she ends her child's life. 

Support life by supporting Alight!