TOLEDO, Ohio — Two local nonprofits, Mom's House and The Pregnancy Center, announced a partnership Thursday to help support families dealing with unplanned pregnancies.
The announcement was the groundbreaking for a new space called Laurie's Place, on The Pregnancy Center's campus. At this location families, single parents, guardians and families in need will be able to seek help all in one location.
Mom's House graduate Rosalyn Whickum beamed alongside her seven-year-old daughter, Kimani Whickum. The pair came to celebrate this new partnership that's been three years in the making.
"This collaboration between Mom's House and The Pregnancy Center speaks to the need for collaboration between the entire community," Whickum said.
Whickum was able to get both her bachelor's and master's degrees, as her daughter grew from just six weeks old to 5 years old, while she worked through the Mom's House program.
"That wouldn't be possible without being able to be at Mom's House," Whickum said. "To receive all the love and care and impact, that's why I'm so excited for everybody else to get that too."
For the press conference, the tent was packed with community leaders, sponsors, first responders and fellow nonprofits all to hear the great news.
Both Mom's House and The Pregnancy Center's executive directors, Christina Rodriguez and Savannah Marten, hugged and were brought to tears as they were introduced for the announcement of this new space.
"Toledo cares about family, we care about our own," Marten said. "It's overwhelming to see the amount of support that's gotten us here today."
Marten said the greater community at large has been asking for a change, so this new collaborative space is the answer. The pair received a standing ovation.
"It's going to house Mom's House's [second] location, expanded educational classes for both The Pregnancy Center and Mom's House, a wing where we have about 24 community partners that are going to have rotating officer hours," Marten said.
It's called Laurie's Place, in honor of Bob Moore's late wife Laurie. The pair were foster parents and advocates for children to have love and support.
Moore has been named the anchor donation for the project with $1 million. This collaborative space will cost $12.1 million. Rodriguez and Marten said this space is almost completely paid for there are less than $2 million left to raise.
"We also understand and know, this isn't our career. This is our calling and we know what we're doing is exactly what we're supposed to be doing for our community," Rodriguez said.
While the groundbreaking made everyone proud, it seemed Kimani Whickum was more happy and proud of her Mom.
"My favorite thing about my mom is she's nice," Kimani said.