Life Center of Long Island
1986-2014
ND
28th
Anniversary
N G I SL
A
LO
THE LIFE
NTER OF
CE
CELEBRATING TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS • ESTABLISHED MAY 1986 • OCTOBER 2014
1767 Deer Park Avenue
35 East Willow Street
474 Fulton Avenue
6 East Main Street, Suite 2
Deer Park • NY • 11729 Massapequa • NY • 11758 Hempstead • NY • 11550 Riverhead • NY • 11901
T. 631.243.2373
T. 516.798.8746
T. 516.408.6300
T. 631.591.9017
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
October is Respect Life Month as well as being
dedicated to Mary, the Blessed Mother. Please
pray the rosary to promote respect for human
life, born and unborn. Our troubled world needs
the intercession of our Holy Mother.
My Mother, My Angel
“There are many thoughts about angels in our lives today. Some think movie stars are angels
in their lives; others go for pro-athletes, still others think their angels are part of their extended or
immediate family. But my angel is someone I never had the chance to know. My angel is my birth
mother.
My birth mother became pregnant with me at sixteen years of age, was deserted by her
so-called “boyfriend,” and left alone with a major choice. She could have kept me and had me live
on government welfare for most of my life, aborted me, or placed me for adoption. This decision
must have been a very, very, difficult one for her. She decided she wanted me to have a good and
happy life, so she knocked out the choice of abortion. My birth mother wanted to keep me, yet she
somehow thought that I would not have a happy life with her, and felt guilty because she could not
provide me with the type of lifestyle many children live. So, after some long thoughts on the topic,
she decided to place me for adoption.
My Mom was told she could not have a baby because she had three too many chromosomes.
She and my Dad were devastated. After that, they tried their best to find a baby they could adopt,
but found it very difficult. Then one day my Uncle John, he’s the lawyer in our family, found out about
my birth mother, and talked to her about her situation. She told him about how she wanted to place
her baby for adoption, and my uncle told her about my parents. Soon after, my birth mother asked
my parents if they would be willing to take me home with them after I was born, and raise me. My
parents were so glad! They had been waiting so long for a miracle to come their way, and it had
finally happened!
At last the day had come for me to be born. At six in the morning, the phone rang at my
Mom and Dad’s house. It was my Uncle John. He told them they had a new baby girl. My Mom and
Dad rushed to the hospital to pick me up. My birth mother handed me to my parents, and told them
to take good care of me.
I guess everyone has someone special they love, but I never knew one of the people I love
the most, my birth mother. Because of her, I have learned to appreciate what I have; sometimes
more than others. She gave me the gift of life, and a great family to share it with; she will always
be my angel.”
The above was received by the Life Center of Long Island from a young lady along with her
donation. We often acknowledge a mother’s love for her child, but forget about the love of the child,
born or unborn, for his or her mother.
Our
M i s s i o n ...
“To promote, encourage and foster public sentiment and respect for the dignity of human life...
...from conception to natural death.”
D o n o r S i t e : w w w. l i f e c e n t e r l i . o r g • C l i e n t S i t e : w w w. a a a p re g n a n cyo p t i o n s . o r g
The Executive Director
FROM THE DESK OF
Dear Friends,
O
ur Annual Dinner Dance was held on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the beautiful Woodbury Country Club.
We honored Chaminade High School and Dr. Dina El Kady for their tremendous support of the work of the Life
Center. Our guest speaker, Dr. Anne L. Nolte, founder and medical director of the National Gianna Center for
Women, gave an inspiring presentation on women’s health and fertility and the resources available to women. Here are
some of our highlights for the year that I shared with our audience that evening:
Riverhead... May 28th, our 4th “AAA Pregnancy Options” at 6 East Main Street - 2nd Floor, opened. New York State reported abortions by
county for the year last recorded 2012: Nassau County reported 1,857 abortions and Suffolk County 3,115 abortions! We were aware of the
necessity for a center in Suffolk County to educate these women and men and save babies lives. An “Angel” offered us an office on the second
floor of her building for one year rent free, down the block from Planned Parenthood. Our Riverhead presence has already drawn 21 clients to
our center and we have already had our 1st baby saved from abortion! We quickly became a leading resource to local community organizations
and parishes on both the North and South Forks and have been contacted for assistance regarding crisis pregnancies, housing, baby items,
and post abortion counseling. Our initial budget for Riverhead currently limits our operating hours to just three days a week: Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, 10 am to 4 pm. Our board member, Larry DiBlasi stepped out in faith and personally initiated the “Founding Parent”
Riverhead fundraising campaign. We are pleased to announce that the funds raised so far through this campaign will enable us to
open Riverhead five days a week in the near future!
Catholic Health Services...The Life Center collaborated with Dr. Dina El Kady, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital
to address the urgent need for sonogram accessibility for our abortion vulnerable clients. As a result, a pilot program has been implemented that
includes high-quality maternal fetal care, obstetrical services and other programs offered by the following Catholic Health Services Hospitals:
Good Samaritan, St. Charles, St. Catherine of Sienna, and Mercy Hospitals. Since inception of this program in 2012 and to date, the Life Center
has referred in total 253 women for sonograms to the hospitals under Catholic Health Services. THE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT of the evening
was that as a result of the success of the pilot program and this collaboration, the Life Center of Long Island and Catholic Health Services
signed an Affiliation Agreement. This Affiliation opens tremendous opportunities for both parties as we will be coordinating our efforts to
work more closely together as a partnership that will bring much needed medical necessities and resources to care for our clients and save
babies and mothers lives.
Life Center goes International... We are pleased to announce that Deacon Joe and Joanne McNicholas, parishioners of Holy Family Parish
in Hicksville have joined our post abortion ministry, Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, as lead facilitators. In 2013, Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat on
L.I. counseled 52 women and 8 men, and since inception in 2003, encompassed 491 participants and memorialized 1,005 babies. In May
2014, the Life Center was invited to speak by the President of the Association for Life of Africa aka (AFLA) at the 2014 Pan African Equipping
Conference in the city of Livingstone, Zambia. Life Center missionaries Deacon Frank and Lorraine Gariboldi attended with Lorraine presenting
“Healing the Wounds of Pregnancy Loss - Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Abortion.” Deacon Frank presented “Men and Abortion.” This October
2014, the Life Center has answered the call and will assist in establishing Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, in Trinidad, West Indies.
Future Opportunities: New Life Center Locations... The Life Center is positioned for growth. We have two separate individual donors
interested in contributing to the openings of two individual “AAA Pregnancy Options” centers. We will pursue these opportunities. Thank you
for all your prayers and support as we continue to defend the preborn. The success of the Life Center is clearly God’s blessing on our work.
We want you to be a part of this excitement by joining us and helping us to grow and continue God’s plan by saving more babies and mothers
lives here on Long Island.
Blessings,
Beginning October 1, 2014 through September 2015
The following is the schedule for Long Island Teen Freedom
programming on Cablevision Channel 20
Hauppauge - Monday 4:30pm • Riverhead - Wednesday 3pm
Woodbury - Tuesday 3pm
Our Annual Dinner Dance
Our Honorees
Recipients of the Life Center Gospel of Life Award
DR. DINA EL KADY
CHAMINADE HIGH SCHOOL
Director, Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine,
Good Samaritan Hospital
In recognition of Dr. El Kady’s providing the Life Center’s
vulnerable clients access to sonograms and pre-natal care.
In recognition of Chaminade students’ generosity through
Baby Bottle campaigns, resulting in significant support of
the works of the Life Center of Long Island.
Pictured above, left to right: Executive Director Gloria Schreiber,
Dr. Dina El Kady, and Deacon Thomas Lucie (Vice President, Life Center of Long Island)
Pictured left side, front to back: Jordan Wergiles, Thomas Butler, Jonathan Pham,
Guy Lacongnata, and Mr. Daniel Pertruccio. Pictured right side, front to back: Bryan
Minarczyk, Lawrence King, James Bordanaro, and Brother Lawrence Syriac.
Our Guest Speaker
DR. ANNE NOLTE
Founder and Medical Director of the
National Gianna Center for Women, NYC
Dr. Nolte offered an informative and inspiring speech on
women’s fertility and health.
Pictured above: Gospel of Life Award presented to Bro. Lawrence Syriac and Jonathan
Pham (President, Student Catholic League) by Executive Director Gloria Schreiber
Hempstead Update: New Temporary Location
Rayanne and Veronica
Reception Area
Meg in the Office
Due to extensive building renovations, our Hempstead office at 507 Fulton
Avenue has temporarily relocated across the street to:
474 Fulton Ave., Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 408-6300
Joann D’Angelo of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish,
West Islip for the donation of baby items and blankets.
Lucille Diehl and Lucille Erickson of Maria Regina Parish,
Seaford for the donation of baby blankets and sweaters.
Terri Carson of Hicksville for the donation of baby
blankets, booties, and hats.
Blessings and gratitude to Juan Velaquez - for donating his truck for our
move, and to Charlie Volpe, Jose Enriguez, Kevin Kenny, Pat Coviello, and Bill
Hale for their assistance with the move.
Bethpage Chapter # 5201 of AARP for baby blankets.
We thank our temporary landlord, Richard Goodman, for making this move
possible.
Jeanne Gill and Bob Jablonski for their ongoing
donations of diapers and baby wipes.
Coming Events
FREE
MOVIE
SCREENING:
Coming Up This Fall:
Beautiful, Religious Themed Gifts as well as Cards & Ornaments
If you or your organization is interested in selling items to
benefit the Life Center of LI
please contact Margie at 631-839-2854 or Catherine at
631-243-2373 so that we may add you to our calendar!
We will be at the following parishes after the masses this fall:
Starring: Brendan Fraser / Vanessa Hudgens /
James Earl Jones / Rosario Dawson
October 11th & 12th after the Masses ~
Coffee Social @ Our Lady of Lourdes, Massapequa
(*Saturday Mass @ 5:15, Sunday Masses @ 7:30 / 9:00 /
10:30 / 12:00 / 1:30)
Where: Our Lady of Fatima
6 Cottonwood Rd, Port Washington, NY 11050
When: Sunday, October 5th
1:30 Doors Open ~ 2:00 pm Movie Starts
November 8th & 9th St. Mark’s / Shoreham
November 8th & 9th Ss. Cyril & Methodius / Deer Park
November 15th & 16th Holy Name of Jesus / Woodbury
December 13th & 14th Maria Regina / Seaford
(Baby Item Donations & Free Will offering to be
taken up for the Life Center)
(A Selection of our Religious Gift Items will be
available for sale at this Movie Event!)
~ Celebrate Life Bracelets ~
Available at all Advent Shops
(Massapequa / Bay Shore / Rockville Centre)
Multi-colored, makes a beautiful gift
$20 each / $5.00 from each sale goes to
Life Center of LI
If your parish would like us to run a
Free Pro-Life Movie night... let us know!
We now have “GIMME SHELTER” available!
Contact [email protected] or call 631-839-2854
Will you or your organization consider hosting
a Baby Shower for the Life Center of LI?
Invitations are printed and ready for you to send out!
We will provide a speaker and someone to pick up all donations.
Deacon Thomas Lucie
Vice President
Paul Hodermarsky
Treasurer
Carleen Russell
Secretary
Matthew J. De Marco, Esq. KM
Chairman of the Board
Lawrence DiBlasi
Lorraine Gariboldi
Paul Hodermarsky
Dr. Lisa A. Honkanen
Deacon Thomas Lucie
Linda Alba Masin, Esq.
Carleen Russell
ADVISORS
OFFICERS
Gloria Schreiber
Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Contact [email protected] or 631-839-2854.
Dr. Robert Scanlon
Medical Advisor
Chris Modelewski, Esq.
Legal Advisor
Rev. Francis B. Nuss
Chaplain
Det. & Mrs. Steven McDonald
Msgr. James P. Lisante
Spiritual Advisor