Vitae Foundation marking 25th anniversary

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, former co-host on The View, will be the keynote speaker at the Vitae Foundation's annual event March 29-30, 2017, at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, former co-host on The View, will be the keynote speaker at the Vitae Foundation's annual event March 29-30, 2017, at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

Vitae Foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary of providing women who may have unplanned pregnancies with the option to choose life during its annual event March 29-30 at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

Vitae Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that uses mass media campaigns to reach women facing unplanned pregnancies by using right-brain research to promote its messages.

In 1992, there were 16,240 resident abortions reported in Missouri, according to Department of Public Health data. As of 2014, the number of abortions has decreased to 7,474.

"We're not just a pro-life group," said Stacy Kromer, senior market director for Central Missouri at Vitae. "We encourage the sanctity of human life, and we want women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy to choose life."

This year, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, former co-host on The View, will be the keynote speaker at the event. Kromer describes Hasselbeck as a very prayerful, thorough, but fearless woman.

 

"We want our guests to leave the event having a greater knowledge of what Vitae does," she said.

Kromer said the decision to have an abortion is an emotional decision, which is why right-brain research is a pertinent piece of their marketing strategies.

"We create messages in hope that they lead women to a pregnancy help center so she can make an informed decision, which is effectively marketed to her through digital advertising," she said.

Brandy Meeks, program director at Vitae, told the News Tribune their messages are focused on the woman, taking them to a judgment-free zone.

Kromer also noted over the past 25 years, Vitae has conducted seven right-brained research studies and has the largest knowledge base for research on abortion decision making in the world.

The organization's goal is to raise $500,000 through fundraising. Donors can choose to donate by calling Vitae at 573-634-4316 or by visiting adsforlife.org. 

The Vitae dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. March 29 at Capitol Plaza Hotel. Breakfast is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. March 30.

To register for the event, call Vitae at 573-634-4316 or visit www.vitaefoundation.org/events. Registration for dinner on March 29 costs $100 per person, with $75 being tax deductible; registration for the breakfast March 30 costs $50 per person, with $25 being tax deductible.