Our Vision
Life assured for every baby.
Hope renewed for every family.
Lives transformed through Jesus Christ.
Our Mission:
LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers is a Christian organization dedicated to serving women with no cost and no judgment by providing services and abortion alternatives that empower mothers to choose life and families to thrive.
Who We Are
We are a Christian 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on the needs of women and families facing crisis pregnancy in the Albemarle, Buckingham, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, and Rappahannock Virginia communities.
Since 1984, our pregnancy centers (fmr. ThriVe Women’s Healthcare) have been sharing the love of Jesus by serving women and supporting families through times of crisis and trauma. Through no-cost, confidential pregnancy tests, STI/STD testing & treatment, ultrasounds, and material assistance, we make a difference in our communities, jails, and college campuses.
All of the services and resources we provide —from sexual risk avoidance education to post-abortion Bible studies—are at no cost to our clients and supplied by God through many churches, countless volunteers, supernatural blessings, and local businesses. Our pregnancy centers receive no governmental assistance but host fall fundraising events, walks, campaigns, dinners and appeals in order to support the sanctity of human life, an ever-increasing budget, an expanding medical ministry and the thriving of the next generation.
We do not perform or refer for abortions, nor are we an adoption agency.
Our History
1982-1983
1984
1995
1998
2002-2003
2005
2019
July 1, 2022
How it Started
A meeting was held with Charlie Drew, Robert Conrad, Russell Burke, Doug Woodside, Pete Brunstetter, and Jim Houston to discuss alternatives to abortion. The steering committee included: Robert Conrad, Frank Hassler, Beverly Burger, Jane Nolan, Sherri Oster, Hank Hamilton, Jani Houston and Steve Meixel.
The Center was incorporated as a 501 (c)3 non-profit and the first Board Meeting was held in November with Andy Macfarlan, Beverly Burger, Laurel Stanley, Cindy Schoeffel, Robert Conrad, Frank Hassler and Mark Beliles. They formulated policies, raised funds, and hired Monica Gearhart as Executive Director.
Charlottesville Pregnancy Center
Volunteers were trained and the Center opened at 205 Second Street, SW, Charlottesville. The name was changed to Charlottesville Pregnancy Center.
Janet Jefferies
In 1995, through unfailing commitment, faith, vision, and determination, Dr. Janet Jefferies led the development of an innovative medical mission for The Pregnancy Centers. The first of its kind in Virginia, Dr. Jefferies enlisted the help and services of her colleagues in the medical community who shared her commitment to women and families facing times of crisis and trauma. Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Janet Jefferies, this medical ministry continues today in all of our Centers!
Culpeper Center
In August 1998, our new Culpeper Center opened its doors to clients. Lindy Dimeo was hired as our first Culpeper Director.
Expansion
The Charlottesville Pregnancy Center name was changed to The Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia.
In response to the high teen pregnancy rate in Orange and the relatively high number of abortions in that community, the Board decided to open a new satellite Center in Orange. It opened in November 2003 with Susan Ruffner as the first Center Director.
Opening our 4th location & Worth Your Wait
We opened our fourth Center on Greenbrier Drive in Albemarle County to compete with two neighboring abortion clinics, including a Planned Parenthood. A designated gift was received from Emmaus With Child.
With abstinence education programs ongoing in Culpeper, Orange, Madison, and Louisa County schools, we were awarded a 3-year federal SPRANS Abstinence Education Grant and we started our Worth Your Wait program
ThriVe Women's Healthcare
In 2019, after much consideration, our Board elected to begin an affiliation with ThriVe® St. Louis. The ministry changed its name to ThriVe® Women’s Healthcare of Central Virginia and adopted a medical health model.
Reaffirming our Roots
After careful consideration, focused prayer and time spent reflecting on who we are, our core values, and our mission and vision, the Board at Thrive® Women’s Healthcare announced that we would not be renewing our ThriVe affiliation and would instead serve as LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers!
This ministry has faithfully served Central Virginia since 1984. Previous names represented our focus during each time frame: first, crisis pregnancies, and more recently a nationally affiliated medical model. Going forward we strongly believe our new name represents who we are independent of the services that we provide. Continuing our work as LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers reflects our commitment to preserve life, while serving women and their families throughout our region in a non-judgmental, loving, and caring environment—meeting them where they are.