Our Vision
Life assured for every baby.
Hope renewed for every family.
Lives transformed through Jesus Christ.
Our Mission:
To engage and impact the lives of those facing crisis pregnancy and risky sexual behavior by offering hope and sharing truth through:
– No-cost, confidential, and non-judgmental options education
– Medical services including STI/STD testing & ultrasound
– Material aid
– God’s word and transforming love
Further, we provide hope and healing through post-abortion ministries and sexual integrity education.
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.
For 38 years, 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
Check out four decades of our ministry’s history!
1982-1983
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.
1984
Charlottesville Pregnancy Center
Volunteers were trained and the Center opened at 205 Second Street, SW, Charlottesville.
The name was changed to Charlottesville Pregnancy Center.
1995
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!
1998
Culpeper Center
In August 1998, our new Culpeper Center opened its doors to clients. Lindy Dimeo was hired as our first Culpeper Director.
2002-2003
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.
2005
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
2019
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.
July 1, 2022
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!