Society for the Preservation of Human Dignity, a counseling center for pregnancy help and education, began with the vision of one woman – Marion Stocker. In 1969, Marion, PHD’s founder was recuperating from her second heart attack at 40 years of age. Bedridden, she had plenty of time to read and listen to the news. Especially heart wrenching to her were the stories of women traveling to New York to procure an abortion. She felt the decision to have an abortion must be very difficult for women who felt they had no alternative. Perhaps, if help and support on having a child were available to women, the choice of abortion would not be made. If someone would only listen to them, help them, love them, their choice might be to give birth.
Marion’s decision to place a local ad in the Chicago Tribune became the catalyst to the thriving programs and services PHD provides today. The ad simply said, “Is abortion the answer? For help, please call….” The moment it hit the newsstand calls began to pour in from women reaching out for support, someone to talk to and someone who would care enough to help them through their pregnancy.
Today, PHD helps thousands of women by providing professional counseling and support services to address an array of complex parenting and pregnancy related issues including postpartum depression, grief and loss of a child, post abortion and post adoption.
