Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation

Harbor Pregnancy Help Center provides practical down-to-earth one-on-one counseling, companionship and support for pregnant women in crisis. Founded by the Knights of Malta, the Center, formerly La Cuna Harbor Pregnancy Center, serves Hispanic women in impoverished areas of the Los Angeles South Bay area. A 24 hour toll free help line directs Spanish speaking callers to the Center’s counselors. The Center seeks pregnant women who might consider abortion for economic reasons and who are in need of quality prenatal care and practical alternatives to abortion. Because they believe life begins at conception, the Center does not provide abortion services or referrals.

Part time administrators oversee a dedicated core group of Spanish speaking volunteers who provide women in the community with a variety of services. Irene Rivas began her involvement at Harbor Pregnancy out of a desire to become involved with Pro-Life work. She treats each woman seeking help as an individual, listening to her story. She finds out what help the woman needs. She finds that most women considering an abortion are not knowledgeable about the process, and think that it will solve their problems. She feels compassion for them, knowing that such a choice brings emotional, spiritual and physical consequences that can last a lifetime. She tries to educate them. “I want the girl to realize that she has a real live baby in her womb, a distinct human being, separate from her body”. She gives them choices. She promises to be there for them.

One young woman whom Irene met, “Layla”, writes that she was pregnant, homeless, alone and scared. She was 4 months pregnant and had begun the first step for a late term abortion. After meeting with Irene, she changed her mind, and went to the hospital with her where a doctor was able to stop the abortion. Complications arose and she remained in the hospital, hoping for her baby to live. She delivered a baby at 7 months. She writes, “God called him to heaven the same day he came into the world. If it wasn’t for the time and patience that Irene took to convince me that there was a better way, I would never have gotten to know my beautiful son, Benicio. Through the Pregnancy Center, I also met many wonderful people who showed me that all life, even an ‘unwanted life’, is precious.”

The Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation began funding the Harbor Pregnancy Help Center with a start up grant in 1986, and has assisted with their operational expenses in subsequent years.