See the slideshow and address from Sen. Rand Paul

Greetings Pro-Life Champions! What an amazing evening! As your Executive Director, I could write volumes on the inspirational and joyful spirit that filled the room at Thursday’s 48^th Annual Celebration of Life Banquet!

With a year of COVID 19 restrictions, masks and social separation, and even though we employed all current health and COVID guidelines, the joy of a Pro-Life Family Reunion filled the banquet hall and the hearts of everyone in attendance!

So many words of thanks and gratitude go out to everyone who helped to make our Celebration such a blessing!

Our Emcee, Col. Steve Parker, kept the evening on track with his entertaining wit. You realized how blessed we are to call Kentucky home when you listen to the thought-provoking words of Kentucky’s Attorney General, Daniel Cameron. He is relentless in his pursuit of justice and defense of the unborn! Thanks also to Senator Rand Paul, who took time from his extremely intensive Washington D.C. responsibilities to extend a personal Pro-Life message of encouragement to all of us.

Ky Attorney General Daniel Cameron

Congratulations to our 2021 Award recipients

This year’s essay topic was “Why am I pro-life?” We received many thoughtful essays from across the state. Our 2021 contest winners are: Anna Sewell, a Freshman at Highlands Latin School; Marissa Mudd, a Sophomore at Highlands Latin School; and Gabby Browning, a Junior at Notre Dame Academy in Northern Kentucky. Our sincere thanks to the students and our panel of judges who reviewed the essays, which was no small task!

L to r: Marissa, Anna, Cathie Young, RTL of Louisville Board President, Walk for Life chair and Essay chair (too!), and Gabby

RTL Volunteer of the Year: Our recipients Celesta and Rick Arnold are an absolutely amazing couple; both are a living testimony to our mission and are Pro-Life champions. They are responsible for organizing and promoting the annual Pro-Life Mass held at St. Martin of Tours. Together, they helped roll out the Knights of Columbus ultrasound initiative in Kentucky, providing over 12 ultrasound machines to pregnancy resource centers across the Commonwealth.

The Right to Life Educational Foundation of Ky Award went to Kent Ostrander, Executive Director and founder of the Kentucky Family Foundation. The Right to Life Educational Foundation of Kentucky Award is given in recognition of an outstanding individual who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to respect for human life by counteracting abortion, infanticide and euthanasia in the Commonwealth through exceptional educational efforts.)

Each year the Dr. Albert J. Schweitzer Humanitarian of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have exemplified what we at Right to Life have been advocating since our inception — respect for life itself. Our 2021 Humanitarian of the Year made significant contributions, through his public and private life, to advancing a culture of life across the Commonwealth. It was an honor to recognize and award the 2021 Humanitarian of the Year award to the 62nd Governor of Kentucky, and notably the most Pro-Life Governor in the history of our Commonwealth, Matt Bevin.

Then it was time for our 2021 speaker…! For many, our speaker really needed no introduction. Mark Schultz is a platinum-selling Christian recording artist with 10 #1 singles, a Dove award, and multiple Dove award nominations. But Mark’s story is more than album sales and awards. His story is told through his music. His beautifully woven stories in word and song moved our hearts to reflect on how truly precious life is… Mark’s story is one of navigating life not for himself, but for the glory of God. At Kentucky Right to Life, we are already being encouraged to hold a “Yes for Life” concert!

Of course, we shared our exciting announcement regarding our new scholarships to support the “Next Pro-Life Generation”! Beginning this year, The Right to Life Educational Foundation of Kentucky will offer four $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors. Information on these scholarships is available online or by contacting our RTL office at 502.895.5959.

Before ending our evening with prayer, Kentucky Right to Life shared the importance of an extraordinary and historic piece of legislation that we have been working on with our Pro-Life House and Senate. The legislation is HB 91, “Yes for Life”, Kentucky’s Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment!

We hope everyone will join Kentucky Right to Life in collaboration with Pro-Family and Pro-Life organizations from across Kentucky, on the front steps of our capital in Frankfort on Monday, March 29^th for the “Yes for Life Vigil & Rally” supporting final passage of HB91!

On Thursday evening as we shared the critical significance of Kentucky’s Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment, we also began our first appeal. Passing such a monumental issue on the ballot will require significant prayer, work and funding.

We are trusting in the Good Lord and the generosity of many hearts as we take on this monumental task of raising a half million dollars… $500,000.00! We will need your help and we hope that you will prayerfully open your hearts and provide generous financial support for this historical and life-impacting challenge God now calls us to “Yes for Life Kentucky!”

Well, I have now penned a chapter or two on that novel I could write about a very special joy-filled evening at the 48^th Annual Celebration of Life and the blessing of being called to serve as your Kentucky Right to Life Executive Director. Thank you again, to Dawn & the Celebration Team: Corey, Karen, Michelle and Erica for being so amazing. We thank you Lord for being the voice that calls us and the glue that holds us together!

The greatest cultural challenge is before us. It will reflect the society, state and nation that we leave for our children, or as the framers of our Constitution so beautifully stated in the preamble… for ourselves and our posterity. Those words were written for the people living in 1787, for us today for future generations of unborn Americans.

Angela Minter, Executive Director of Sisters for Life and Addia Wuchner, Executive Director of KRLA

Thank you everyone who joined with us Thursday evening; and for those who couldn’t make it, I look forward to visiting with you soon.

Please keep Kentucky Right to Life, our Affiliates and collaborating Pro-Life organizations in your prayers as we work together on this defining issue of our time, the human rights and the defense of the most vulnerable, the right to life of the unborn child!

God Bless you and be assured of my prayers! Please watch for many more banquet photos, coming soon.

Changing Hearts, Saving Lives!