1971
On November 13, 1971, Dr. John Hillabrand, a Toledo, Ohio, obstetrician, and Lore Maier, a refugee from Nazi Germany, formed Alternatives to Abortion to network emerging hotlines and pregnancy help services. Knowing that legalized abortion would spread rapidly around the world, they soon became Alternatives to Abortion International (AAI).
1973
On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, reshaping the national landscape by legalizing abortion. This pivotal ruling not only nullified existing state abortion restrictions but also established a federally protected right to abortion, removing state-level regulatory power. This decision catalyzed an expansion of abortion access across the country, underscoring the urgent need for pregnancy help services to support women facing unplanned pregnancies.
1993
By 1993, about 75 original contacts had grown to about 200 affiliates and AAI changed its name to Heartbeat International. More and more Catholic and Evangelical Christians felt called to help and start calling for help. We became the “go-to” place for start-up manuals, model programs, leadership training conferences, and a place to go for advice and prayer.
2003
Through a joint venture with CareNet, Option Line took it's first call in 2003. While it's no longer a joint venture, Option Line continues to serve as a 24/7 pregnancy help contact center open any time, to anyone reaching out for help, answering more than 1,100 connections each day via phone call, live chat, texting, and email.
2017
Dr. George Delgado, founder of the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, was looking for a partner to enhance and expand abortion pill reversal. A year later, Heartbeat International officially took over the management of the APRN. Since then, we have had the opportunity to share these miraculous stories with legislators, reporters, and other pregnancy help organizations!
2022
On June 24, 2022, Roe v. Wade, in its fiftieth year, was finally overturned. The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, written by Justice Samuel Alito, masterfully disassembled Roe’s deeply flawed legal footing, releasing each state to protect the lives of women and their babies from the predatory practices of abortion providers. Unfortunately, the ruling also allowed states to reaffirm or advance abortion practices and provisions.
Over 50 years later, Heartbeat International's story continues to take exciting and challenging turns as we develop leaders to supply a growing pregnancy help movement. From the underserved urban neighborhoods—so often targeted by Big Abortion—to the rural reaches, the mission field created by abortion calls us to impact more lives.
The best alternative to abortion is another person.
Today, Heartbeat International serves over 3,500 affiliated pregnancy help locations, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies on every continent.
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Our story continues as simply one of helping God’s people discover the life-saving, death-defying, soul-satisfying, and God-glorifying power of neighborly love.
Read more about our story in "The Power of Pregnancy Help," a history of the pregnancy help community by Heartbeat International Board Chairwoman, Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., and President Jor-El Godsey.
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