Did you know? At seven weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant, their baby already has a beating heart (just 21 days after conception), major organs, blood type, hair follicles, knees and elbows and visible facial features, eyes that have retinas and lens and a muscle system that is developed.

Director’s Corner By Vera Marelli, Executive Director

“Picture This: Revealing Life to Save a Life”

SPRING EDITION 2016

Needed. Can You Help?

Check Out our newly formatted website: www.trylife.center

1155 Wildlife Lodge Road Lower Burrell, PA 15068www.trylife.center

Phone: 724.339.9399 Fax: 724.334.2329 Email: info@trylife.center

• Certified PA DOT flaggers for Saturday, June 25

• Formula, especially Similac

• Diapers in sizes 4, 5 and 6

• Cases of individual packages of baby wipes

• Baby cereal & jars of baby food

• Clean, empty 10-11 oz. soup cans

• Gift cards for gas & pantry needs

• Batteries– all sizes

• Paper & office products

• Floor stand for a 5x3 foot USA flag which was donated by our local Republican Committee

Trylife Center’s Twitter account name is @TryLifeCenter

Like us on Facebook

Our MissionTryLife Center is a life-affirming pregnancy and family resource center dedicated to promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being through confidential counseling, education and material support.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Ziringer President

Elaine Brenneman Vice-President

Dr. Wayne Decroo Treasurer

Jennifer Sanders Secretary

Richard Farinelli

David R. Ross

Cheryl Williams

STAFF

Vera Marelli, Executive Director

Patti Samuels, Program Director

Joan Anderson

Marion Boggs

Mallory Codita

Jessica Copney

Debra Feroce

Nancy Giuliotti

Alexa Hannay

Pamela Macon

Braylee Mcilwain

Linda Tamarella

Fran Travaglia

Phyllis Trim

Lois Weidner

Raianne Welling

A quarterly newsletter

The Official Registration And Financial Information Of Tri-City Life Center, Inc.

May Be Obtained From The Pennsylvania Department Of State By Calling Toll

Free, Within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration

Does Not Imply Endorsement.

United Way Partner Donor Designation #223440

Trylife Center Respects Your Right To Privacy. We Will Not Share Or Sell Our

Donor Or Mailing List. If You Wish To Have Your Name And Address Removed

From Our Mailing Or Donor List, Please Call Us At 724.339.9399 X106.

Your Invitation to a Celebration of Mothers TryLife Center volunteers are hosting the annual Spring Tea, “One Life at a Time” on June 11, 2016, 11:00 – 2:00, at Hill Crest Country Club. It promises to be a delightful event, filled with spring hats, gorgeous baskets for raffle, a silent auction of new and gently-used purses and entertainment! The high tea features scrumptious finger sandwiches, scones and cookies, coupled with a variety of English teas. Chaired by longtime volunteer and supporter, Sally Thimons, the event is entirely volunteer-driven by a cadre of dedicated volunteers.

Ticket price is $30, with proceeds benefiting the “Parent & Baby” program, which provides diapers, baby wipes, formula, infant clothing, car seats, cribs and mattresses and more to keep at-risk babies warm, safe and healthy. Bring a package of baby diapers or baby wipes and receive two extra tickets for the basket raffles!

Reservations are a must. Please call Sally, 724-727-3022, or 724-339-9399 x105. Doors open at 10:00a.m., tea begins at 11:00a.m. Hope to see you there!

We’ve heard the expression, “A picture’s worth A THOUSAND WORDS,” and we can quickly recall times and places brought to us through photos. Recently, one of the presidential candidates told of his conversion from being pro-choice to pro-life when he first saw a sonogram of his daughter after only a few weeks following her conception. Pictures are powerful, and they can often change our lives.

And so we continue to press forward with our plans to place an ultrasound machine in our center, offering this valuable service free of charge, as are all of our services. We want young mothers – whether experiencing an unplanned, unwanted or planned pregnancy – to see the first image of their little one in the safe and comfortable environment we offer. We want those same mothers to be able to talk with a professional who will share all the options available to her. And it all starts with a picture – a sonogram.

Most recently, we met with the Knights of Columbus regarding their Ultrasound Initiative* (see article on page 4) and hopefully, we will qualify to receive a machine through this program. However there are many other costs associated with meeting the regulations to operate an ultrasound machine.

Please consider becoming a monthly partner with us as we take this giant leap of faith, because the value of an ultrasound image, according to our moms, is “priceless” and could truly save a life!

See our website

blog for 7 tips to a

strong relationship

Gifts Given*

*To have a name listed in our newsletter and/or acknowledgment sent, we ask for a minimum donation of $25 per individual or couple name. Additionally, to have an individual or couple’s name placed on a permanent plaque, we ask for a minimum donation of $50 per name/couple.

LIFE LINES – SPRING EDITION 2016PAGE 2 PAGE 3LIFE LINES – SPRING EDITION 2016

Baby Bottle BlessingsBaby Bottle Campaigns remain a very important way for us to partner with area churches and organizations, while providing a source of funding for the Parent & Baby Program.

Recent campaigns include:

* Apollo Assembly of God

* First Baptist in Upper Burrell

* Holy Family Roman Catholic

* Holy Martyrs Roman Catholic

* Millerstown United Methodist

* Oakmont United Methodist

* Rock of Ages

* Harvest MOPS

Will your church or business consider supporting with us in this way? Please contact Mallory: admin@trylife.center; 724.339.9399 x105.

Blessings & Recognitions Manager Flint Huggins of Woodforest National Bank, Natrona Heights, has been conducting a 12-week series of financial classes which have been very beneficial to our clients. A complete listing of the subjects can be found at www.trylife.center/Upcoming events.

The elementary students at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School presented TLC with a generous donation in early February as part of the Kids Helping Kids campaign during Catholic School Week.

United for Life, Inc. in Oakmont held a diaper drive, yielding 2,000 diapers, complete with a generous donation.

Marcia Goble & Teresa Heck, Pediatric Therapy Specialists, conducted a training here in March on

“Container Babies”. Very valuable information!

Leedsworld delivered a pickup truckload of diapers and Sam’s Club donated hundreds of diapers, wipes, and samples for new moms bags in December.

Several big bags of new toys for Christmas came from anonymous donors.

The Community College of Westmoreland Co. held a clothing drive, collecting new and gently used kids’ winter clothing.

Girl Scout troop #52177 donated new baby items and six “Thirty One” brand bags stuffed with baby necessities for Christmas.

The Caring Quilt Ministry at St. Kilian Parish in Cranberry Twp. handcrafted several newborn quilt sets for TLC. They also crochet baby hats for us periodically. The kids at the parish contribute to the special designs.

The Board and staff appreciated the visit from Save the Storks, Colorado Springs, Co. Their mobile ultrasound unit made a stop at the Center on their east coast tour for all to see their custom-made van and dream of the possibilities.

Harvest MOPS group donated their gently used children’s clothes as well as toys.

IN MEMORY OF… Anna Mae Prezzia

Anne Klukaszewski

Antonio NicastroBarbara Diane MichaelDebby JusthamDenise Blose

Dorothy Jean Wheeler

Ellen ToyJack & Doris DoolanLola MaxwellNick LoperfitoRaphael Francis HuberRichard CribbsRobert GuerrieriShirley FeroceTessa Sue ClawsonTheir ParentsTheresa Scarpiniti

IN HONOR OF… Donna DucatoEdmund & Anna Mae ThimonsGeri SarverJesse & Leah SimendingerJoe & Anne FunaiLee & Margie Fay

BY… Jeannie IrvineJanice & David ThimonsEleanor SwaneyDolores & Robert AikenMargie & Bill StaniszewskiMargie & Bill Staniszewski

BY… Kathleen & William Englert

Sean Blair & Family •Chason Harrison & James, Bates, Brannon,Groover LLP • Gertrude Nash • Cottrell, Inc. • Louise & Fred Lukac •Linda & Phillip Howes • Mary Ann &Richard English • Sandra & Mauro Macioce •TLC Staff & Volunteers • Eileen Hobbs •Phyllis & Richard Zajkowski • Myrna McCullough • Queenelle Ogirri •St. Vincent DePaul Society • Automated Financial Systems, Inc. • Valencia Yajko • Lois & Roy Weidner • Agnes & Victor Bastecki • Kathleen Baird • Klukaszewski Family

Dolores GiuntaKathleen & William EnglertDeborah & Raymond JusthamLinda Tamarella

Patrick Wheeler, grandson •Timothy Gustafson • Lorraine & Michael Schneider • John Adams •Janet Zuck • Amelia McMeans •Norma Jean Chee • Jan Gearhart •Diane & Gary Chupka • Rochelle & Michael Trotta • Lois & Roy Weidner • Julia Minton • Margaret & Paul Fitzmaurice • Susan Wisneski & Employees at Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Harmarville

Valencia YajkoDenise & Larry JohnsonValencia YajkoKathleen & William EnglertJoan & John RuncoDianne CribbsDolores GiuntaDebi & Ronnie ZampognaTerri & Nick DilickAnna Mae & Ed ThimonsBernadette & Richard Bayne

“Tour de Center”Plans continue for an exciting spring fundraiser, Biking for Babies. The concept is for individual cyclists, or teams of cyclists, to ride a challenging course of 18, 36, or 44 miles and seek pledges for participating in the ride.

The event will be held Saturday, June 25, 2016. Please tell your friends and those who are cyclists and make them aware of this inaugural event at TryLife Center the Saturday after Father’s Day 2016.

Plans are to begin and end at the Center, travel through the scenic Alle-Kiski Valley making a mid-point stop in North Apollo. A van will be available to transport those cyclists wishing to pedal only part of the ride. Further details can be found and the registration form is available at www.trylife.center/Upcoming Events.

We need certified PA DOT “flaggers” and other volunteers for our ride to be successful. Those interested in helping the day of the ride, please contact us asap!

Fun events including raffles and silent auctions will be held in our parking lot. Items include an autographed photo of Steelers’ Antonio Brown, a year’s pass to all 4 Pittsburgh museums, 4 one-day passes to any Disney World Park, $20 gift certificate for Dave’s Diner and more.

To sponsor a cyclist, go to www.trylife.center/Donate/eGiving/Purpose Biking for Babies. You can add a note to indicate which rider you are sponsoring there also.

Need more details? Contact board members waynedecroo@gmail.com or jennifersanders521@yahoo.com.

Please come out and join the fun whether you ride or not!

Mallory accepts the check from K of C member, Tim Shields, for the proceeds of its Bottle Campaigns.

LIFE LINES – SPRING EDITION 2016

*The Day of Giving is a one-day online donation event through the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, www.pittsburghgives.org. All donations during the Day of Giving will receive a pro-rated share of a match pool. Gifts may range from $25-$1000/donor/organization. Please visit our website, www.trylife.center/Upcoming Events, for more information.

Upcoming EventsDay of Giving

Tuesday, May 3, 8:00a.m.-midnight*

Spring TeaSaturday, June 11, 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

Biking for Babies EventSaturday, June 25, 8:00a.m.—noon

Who Knew??? ...some of our favorite publicationsRecently the advice magazine Cosmopolitan, which is owned by the Hearst Corporation, announced that they will be making endorsements for political candidates.

Cosmopolitan has made it clear that pro-life candidates will not be considered, no matter how qualified they are. In fact, Editor in Chief Amy O’Dell went so far as to say, “We’re not going to endorse someone who is pro-life because that’s not in our readers’ best interest.”

If you subscribe to any of the following publications, please consider sending Hearst a note telling them of your support for life: A & E Networks (owns 50%), Car and Driver, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, CTV Specialty TV, ELLE, ELLE LIVING, ELLE DÉCOR, ESPN (owns 20%), Esquire, Esquire Network, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, House Beautiful, Houston Chronicle Food Network Magazine, O The Oprah Magazine, Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, Marie Claire, Popular Mechanics, National Magazine Co., Red, Redbook, Road & Track, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattlepi.com, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda and Woman’s Day.

You can contact David Carey, president of Hearst Magazine by email: dcarey@hearst.com; by Twitter: twitter.com/CareyAtHearst.

The Knights of Columbus’ Pennsylvania West Region’s Ultrasound Initiative, has been placing the neonatal devices in pregnancy centers in the dioceses of Greensburg and Pittsburgh since 2012. Thomas Pearson, a parishioner of St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana, and Michael Lynch of Pittsburgh, co-chair the ultrasound initiative for the regional council.

“The feedback is that we are saving lives. The Supreme Council is telling us that approximately 80 percent of women who come into a center considering abortion will change their minds after they see the (baby) on the ultrasound.”

“The Knights of Columbus feel that no matter the cost, one saved life is well worth the effort. The K of C doesn’t do programs if it doesn’t see them as effective,” Pearson said.

Costs of the machines vary depending on size and type; half of the cost is paid by the Supreme Council.

As of Feb. 1, the Supreme Council reports the organization has placed more than 662 ultrasound machines in the U.S., Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica and Peru at a cost of more than $19.5 million.

The Ultrasound Initiative*Excerpts taken from The Catholic Accent on Thursday, February 25, 2016 edition

Tribute to Anne KlukaszewskiWe sadly said good bye to Anne as she left this world on February 9. She was a faithful volunteer and supporter of TryLife Center from our beginning in 1997 until 2013 when, for health reasons, she could no longer serve. Her sweet, gentle spirit was a great blessing to the staff, other volunteers and especially to our young parents and their babies. If it is possible, we believe her ministry in Heaven is to welcome little ones into the arms of the Lord. We miss her and send our deepest condolences to her family.

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