Friends of Aid for Women

Friends of Aid for Women This is the page for friends, volunteers and supporters of Aid for Women. Join us in empowering women to choose life!

“All human life, from the moment of conception and through all subsequent stages, is sacred, because human life is created in the image and likeness of God. Nothing surpasses the greatness or dignity of a human person.” — Saint John Paul II

Founded in 1978 on the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church, Aid for Women helps thousands of women each year in the Chicago metropolitan area who find

themselves facing unexpected and difficult pregnancies. Each woman is provided with the emotional, practical and spiritual support she needs to choose life for her unborn baby and to provide a better future for her and her children. Aid for Women operates five pregnancy help centers and two maternity homes. Our life-affirming services are offered to clients free-of-charge. For more information contact us at (312)621-1107 or [email protected] or visit our website at:
www.helpaidforwomen.org

A Very Sweet Gesture, Indeed!St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest has been incredibly generous to Aid for Women cli...
06/03/2026

A Very Sweet Gesture, Indeed!

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest has been incredibly generous to Aid for Women clients over the past two weeks, dropping off a surplus of donated diapers and baby items that will keep our Oak Park Baby Boutique full for weeks to come!

Among the wonderful parishioners coordinating these donations were Janet and Robert Back, pictured here with Marie, our welcoming Charge Nurse. In addition to the donations, Robert and Janet brought with them a box of Ferrero Rocher Kinder eggs for Aid for Women staff to enjoy, in celebration of Robert’s retirement after 25 years from this candy giant.

The founder of Ferrero Rocher was a devout Catholic and he is said to have created his signature candy, the golden-wrapped chocolates with hazelnuts inside, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her grotto built on a rocky hillside in Lourdes, France. A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes resides in all Ferrero Rocher facilities, as well.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this fabulous parish Baby Shower! Together we are saving lives and affirming mothers across Illinois!

The Knights of Columbus have been among Aid for Women’s most generous supporters through the years. Since the legendary ...
05/28/2026

The Knights of Columbus have been among Aid for Women’s most generous supporters through the years. Since the legendary Bingo Nights in Highland Park of the late 1970’s, the Knights have gone out of their way to host and attend fundraising events and make critical donations to sustain our work across Illinois.

This week, the wives of the Knights of Columbus Regina Council #4837 in Wheeling welcomed Aid for Women staff members to hear an update on how Aid for Women continues to save lives and empower women throughout our state. THANK YOU to these fabulous “Ladies of the Knights” for creating this opportunity to deepen our friendship and partnership with you!

A Christmas Story in May!A young woman came into our Downtown center two weeks ago. She was 19 weeks pregnant and shared...
05/26/2026

A Christmas Story in May!

A young woman came into our Downtown center two weeks ago. She was 19 weeks pregnant and shared that she was still undecided if she wanted to keep the baby. She had an abortion in 2025 and regrets it, especially since her closest friend died the month after she had the abortion. As she talked with Emily, her Client Advocate, this woman realized that the expected Due Date of her new baby is the exact same day that her friend died last year. Through her tears, she told Emily that she was sure this was not a coincidence. She believed that it was the “clearest message from God” that she could have received. She said that if her baby is a boy, she wants to name him Emmanuel, because that was the last name of her friend.

When Emily told this new client that Emmanuel means, “God is with us,” that made the young woman cry (with joy) even more. She came back for an ultrasound, she signed up for the Aid for Women Earn While You Learn parenting classes, and she is eager to participate in other Aid for Women programs as well. She works 50-60 hours/week at Taco Bell but found time to go to church on Mother’s Day to thank God for helping her through her decision.

Learn more at helpaidforwomen.org.

“Kind-hearted people gathered for an essential mission.” That’s how one guest described Aid for Women’s recent 2026 Spri...
05/15/2026

“Kind-hearted people gathered for an essential mission.” That’s how one guest described Aid for Women’s recent 2026 Spring Luncheon at the beautiful Skokie Country Club in Glencoe. Hundreds of friends and benefactors enjoyed a sumptuous meal and helped raise record funding for our programs, services, and maternity homes.

A special shout-out goes to Christian recording star Mark Schultz, Fr. Wayne Watts, the Willows Academy Chamber Choir, and our client Danielle who each wowed the crowd at this sold-out event. Aid for Women is on target to reach more than 11,200 vulnerable women in 2026. This is a 25% increase since last year, and our largest annual number ever served. THANK YOU to all of the sponsors, benefactors, and attendees who helped to make this a hugely successful, memorable event! Together we are saving lives and affirming women. Visit helpaidforwomen.org.

A Mother’s Day Update from Karla:Karla came to our center in Wheeling three years ago, scared and unsure of what to do o...
05/10/2026

A Mother’s Day Update from Karla:

Karla came to our center in Wheeling three years ago, scared and unsure of what to do once she saw her ultrasound. She had her son Kaiden and was so grateful for the support she received at Aid for Women that she became a client speaker, helping to spread the word about the programs and services we offer. Karla recently reached out to her former client advocate, saying,

“Just wanted to give you a quick update that my munchkin is almost three years old!! I'm so grateful for him every day. Thank you for helping me choose this amazing life! You will always hold a special place in my heart! Karla added, “Also, my cousin who's only 20 years old just recently found out she was pregnant and she's keeping her baby because of my story, even though she’s scared beyond her mind. Thank you for everything so I can go on to help others!”

At Aid for Women, we are on target to serve more than 11,200 at-risk individuals this year, which is a 25% increase from last year and our largest number ever served. But we need funding to respond to all of the additional expectant women who are coming to us for assistance!

This Mother’s Day, please consider honoring your mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, mother-in-law, or friend with a gift to Aid for Women. You’ll be helping to save lives and affirm women who Choose Life across Illinois. Click here to donate today:
https://give.helpaidforwomen.org/donate/give

Thank you for knowing how important this work is in our state.

As Mother’s Day approaches, we are reminded of the many moms who give generously of their time and talents on a voluntee...
05/01/2026

As Mother’s Day approaches, we are reminded of the many moms who give generously of their time and talents on a volunteer basis at Aid for Women. Meet Michele Ecklund, one of those very special ladies.

Michelle has made quite an impact at Aid for Women in recent years, serving as our agency delivery liaison at Catholic Charities’ Diaper Depot in Round Lake, routinely stopping by the Waukegan center to help keep the Baby Boutique organized, and repeatedly joining the Annual Client Christmas Party crew who help ensure Aid for Women clients experience an abundance of holiday cheer each December.

When asked what draws her to volunteering at Aid for Women, Michele says, “I love it. Everything Aid for Women does is so important.” She continues, “I also volunteer at Aid for Women because my daughter is adopted. My husband Chuck and I adopted Eleanor when she was five and a half months old. She is our gift from God, and I want to help Aid for Women save all of the babies.”

Eleanor is a busy student at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. Michele explains, “Eleanor and her identical twin sister could easily have been aborted. Their biological mother was only 16 years old when she found out she was pregnant, after being the victim of r**e in Taiwan. The twins were born prematurely, and each of the girls had to have heart surgery the day after they were born. Ever since we adopted Eleanor, we have known that God meant for her to be with us, from the beginning of time. His plan is always perfect.”

The Ecklund family inspires many people when sharing their beautiful story. Michele says, “My work for Aid for Women is an extension of my faith, the faith that believes every child deserves a chance to live and be loved. Everything that I do at Aid for Women is going to have a positive impact on a young mother and/or a young family. God is in total control, and I like when I can do my part, too.” Michele adds, “I also volunteer to thank Aid for Women for all that they do, especially the client advocates who give of themselves every single day.”

We thank you, too, Michele, for all you do to help fulfill our mission!

THANK YOU to Saint Patrick’s Church in Lake Forest for holding a fabulous BUNCO 4 BABIES event this week! We are very gr...
04/24/2026

THANK YOU to Saint Patrick’s Church in Lake Forest for holding a fabulous BUNCO 4 BABIES event this week!

We are very grateful to Fr. Patrick Kizza, Parish Administrator, Kathy Healan, Mary Lou Bartlett and the Women’s Group of Saint Patrick’s Church who made it such a festive, successful fundraising event!

Parish gatherings like these make a big impact at Aid for Women! To learn more about how your parish can help, email [email protected] or call (312) 621-1107.

Thank you again to the Saint Patrick’s Church community for its generous support of the women and children we serve!

We had an amazing housing story last week. A 19-year-old college student came to our downtown center last Wednesday for ...
04/24/2026

We had an amazing housing story last week.

A 19-year-old college student came to our downtown center last Wednesday for an ultrasound. She was six weeks pregnant. Her father had an abortion scheduled for last Friday, and he told her that if she didn’t have the abortion, he would kick her out of their family home. On Thursday, at this client's request, we transported her safely to Heather’s House, but she said she needed to go back home to get some things, so she left. On Friday, she called us from the Planned Parenthood clinic. She said they were forcing her to take the abortion pill, and that her father wouldn’t let her leave. She said that she was going to pretend to take the abortion pill while at the clinic, because she wanted to keep her baby. She ended up going back home, gathering more belongings, and traveling in an Uber that evening to Heather’s House. The situation required many Aid for Women team members working together, and it was truly a rescue mission, for both this mother and her child.

Heather's House opened 15 years ago and, since then, we have helped thousands of young women like this one who didn't want to have an abortion. Our eight pregnancy care centers and two live-in maternity homes offer the programs and services that take the crisis out of crisis pregnancies and, instead, offer stability and hope for the future.

Our SPRING LUNCHEON on MAY 7th at the Skokie Country Club in Glencoe will be a great opportunity to learn more. Scan the QR code or click here to register today: https://helpaidforwomen.org/events/luncheon2026/

TICKETS ARE GOING FAST to Aid for Women’s 2026 Spring Luncheon, to be held Thursday, May 7 at the Skokie Country Club in...
04/16/2026

TICKETS ARE GOING FAST to Aid for Women’s 2026 Spring Luncheon, to be held Thursday, May 7 at the Skokie Country Club in Glencoe. A very special program is planned, featuring Platinum-award winning artist Mark Schultz who will share his powerful personal story. Scan the QR code or visit our website (https://helpaidforwomen.org/events/luncheon2026/) to learn more and register today.

Also, we extend warmest thanks to The Pillar Podcast (pillarcatholic.com) for featuring Aid for Women on their recent LIVE broadcast from the Nisei Lounge in Chicago. Hosts JD Flynn and Ed. Condon interviewed Faith Cintron, our Maternity Home Manager, and invited the audience to support our work.

Faith described the transformation many women experience after living in one of our two maternity homes. She said, “Our objective is to help a woman in a crisis pregnancy in her decision-making and extend that care in our maternity homes, as needed where we provide everything: material goods, support for spiritual well-being and emotional care before and after she welcomes her baby into the world. We have a network of professionals who assist us and, through it all, we have this beautiful experience of getting to know a woman, her children and her family, and help her remember who she is as a daughter of God. These women sometimes come from a place of genuine terror: they are homeless, living on the blue line…all sorts of stories, and it is a gift to watch them grow. I have one mom who is now an attorney practicing family law! The generosity of our donors makes this all possible. People’s generosity and people’s prayers sustain us.”

Later in the evening, a young man named Jack came up to say hello to Faith. He shared that he had just been accepted into the seminary, and that he drove eight hours to get to this Pillar event. Jack said, “I’ve been carrying around a $100 bill waiting for God to let me know where it should go.” He handed it to Faith as a donation to Aid for Women.

Learn more at helpaidforwomen.org.

COME TO OUR SPRING LUNCHEON MAY 7thAid for Women’s Annual Spring Luncheon is just four weeks away! Thursday, May 7th S...
04/08/2026

COME TO OUR SPRING LUNCHEON MAY 7th

Aid for Women’s Annual Spring Luncheon is just four weeks away!

Thursday, May 7th
Skokie Country Club, 500 Washington Avenue, Glencoe
Reception begins at 11:00am

Gather your friends and join us for this fabulous gathering featuring:
• Guest Speaker: Platinum award-winning artist Mark Schultz
• Invocation: Fr. Wayne Watts, Pastor, Saints Joseph and Francis
Xavier Parish
• Special Performance By: The Willows Academy Chamber Choir
• Enticing Drawing Prizes to be won!

It’s the perfect way to kick-off Spring, hear updates on our life-saving work, and join with other Friends of Aid for Women in raising funds that will ensure the continuation of our programs and services in the months ahead.

Scan the QR code, visit helpaidforwomen.org/events or call (312) 621-1107 to register. Don’t miss this uplifting event!

Address

8 S. Michigan Avenue Ste
Chicago, IL
60603

Telephone

+13126211107

Website

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