Baby Box Promoters

Effective activism means knowing your enemy.

The following is a list of reported major activist,  financial, and material supporters of the Safe Haven Baby Box Movement, posted by state, county, and/or city. This list is not comprehensive. It focuses on activist, political, and civic organizations;  churches, and ministries; and charitable organizations and foundations.  Individuals also support local initiatives, but unless their support is substantial, they are not listed.

Some large donors have been identified only as “anonymous,” and we have not included them. For the most part, we have also not included in-kind donations such as construction materials, landscaping, etc. Local politicians and legislators support SHBB initiatives since, well . . . nobody wants to be labeled “a baby killer,” which is what happens if they don’t.  Of course, some supporters are well-intentioned but just clueless.

All legislation is supported by Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Right to Life, similar organizations, and the Knights of  Columbus. We have designated, when known, which local/state “pro-life” organizations and Knights of Columbus councils work with SHBB.  Otherwise. we post “Right to Life” or “Knights of Columbus” when that is the only designation in local reports.  We assume those local affiliates support but do not list them since there is no documentation 

Some states listed below do not currently have baby boxes; some have installed boxes without an amendment to their state law. See the map of U.S. states that have baby boxes or that have legislation authorizing installation.

All information is taken from public online sources and is subject to change and correction. Much more research is needed regarding support.

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Note. Nearly every “pro-life” and evangelical and Catholic “pro-life” organization in the United States today actively opposes the restoration of the civil right of all adopted persons to obtain their original birth certificates and other state-held records about themselves.  These same organizations support Safe Haven Baby Boxes. They believe that if an adult adoptee receives their OBC and other information about their origins women today will seek abortions to hide their dirty little secret. SHBB Inc sloganeers  “Women demand anonymity,” and tell adoptees who disagree that they should just shut up and be grateful they were dumpsterized.

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Safe Haven Baby Box Movement

Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Indiana | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Michigan | Mississippi | New Mexico | North Carolina | Ohio | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Other National Support

Leading figures

• Monica Kelsey, SHBB Founder, CEO. Former EMS/firefighter; Navy veteran. “Pro-life” speaker. Author of Blessed to Have been Abandoned.
• Pam Stenzel, SHBB board; SHBB hotline director; controversial nationally known abstinence educator (aka “The Sex Lady”); leading anti-abortion activist. Founder of Enlighten Communications; Former Director of Alpha Women’s Center; currently Senior Regional Clinic Director for Community Pregnancy Clinics in central and southwest Florida.  Received MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. Once referred to the founder of this website as a pedophile for opposing baby boxes.
• Kristi Hofferber, SHBB board;  Outreach Coordinator and “Sidewalk Counseling” at Coalition for Life St. Louis; former Outreach Director at Collinsville Faith in Action;  former board member at Lutherans for Life; former social worker at Fontebella Maternity Home; “pro-life” speaker
• Cathie Humbarger, SHBB Director of Public Policy; SHBB lobbyist; founder and director at Reprotection; retired Executive Director at Indiana Right to Life NE;  retired Vice President of Policy Enforcement at Indiana Right to Life; founding board member at Hope Center.
• Linda Znachko, Founder, Director of He Knows Your Name Ministries; speaks at most SHBB blessing ceremonies
• Fabcore Industries, Fort Wayne, Indiana, baby box manufacturer

Grants and Government Funding

Private Grants: General Operating

Year	Grantor	Location	Amount	Category
2017	Community Foundation of Southern Indiana	Indianapolis, IN	$5,000.00	General Support
2017	Roach Family Foundation	St. Paul, MN	$4,000.00	General
2017	Samaritan Foundation	Haviland, OH	$10,000.00	Humanitarian
2018	Samaritan Foundation	Haviland, OH	$10,000.00	Humanitarian
2018	William C Meier Foundation	Carmel, IN	$400.00	General Support
2019	Roach Family Foundation	St, Paul,IN	$5,000.00	General
2020	Parkview Health System	Ft. Wayne IN	$10,000.00	Program offering 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis
2020	Samaritan Foundation	Haviland, OH	$30,000.00	Humanitarian
TOTAL			$74,400.00

State Taxpayer Funds

(does not include local public funding posted below when known)

Date	State	Amount	Purpose
2022	Indiana	$1,000,000.00	Funds allocated by legislature to assist communities to install and promote Baby Boxes (presumably through grants). No procedures have been released.
2022	New  Mexico	$330,000.00	Grants up to $10,000 each to communities to pay for installation of baby boxes; limited to 1 location per county. New Mexico has no SHBB law, but communities are installing them anyway.
TOTAL STATE GRANTS		$1,300,000.00
TOTAL ALL GRANTS		$1,374,000.00

States and Provinces

Alabama

Statewide

• “Anonymous ” from Baldwin County (donated approx $160,.000 for 10 boxes to be located throughout the state)
• Kids to Love Foundation

Local

Oxford

• Girl Scouts of Northern Alabama

Arkansas

Statewide

• Arkansas Knights of Columbus State Council
• Arkansas Right to Life
• Arkansas Right to Life Educational Trust Fund (billboards)
• Jim Bob & Michelle Dugger

Local

Benton

• Knights of Columbus #9396
• Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church

Conway

• Baptist Health – Conway
• Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime
• Conway Regional Hospital
• Fire Captain Ty Ledbetter (fundraiser)
• Grace Community Church

De Queen

• Knights of Columbus
• Seviers County Medical Center Foundation

El Dorado

• Hannah Pregnancy Resource Center ($10,000 including a grant from ARTL: $3,500)
• Knights of Columbus El Dorado and Magnolia Councils
• Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church

Forrest City

• Junior Auxiliary of St. Francis County ($15,559.72)

Fort Smith

• Eugene & Sharon Kersh ($10,000)

Hot Springs

• Hot Springs Knights of Columbus #6419

Jonesboro

• Craighead County Knights of Columbus
• Craighead County Right to Life

Magnolia

• Hannah Pregnancy Center
• Life Builders Restoration Church
• Magnolia Junior Charity League
• Magnolia Rotary Club

Maumelle

• Knights of Columbus

Mountain Home

• Baxter Health Foundation
• Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce 2022 Leadership Program ($2,000)
• Informed Choices Women’s Center
• Mountain Home Knights of Columbus
• St Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church

Nashville

• Howard Memorial Hospital Foundation ($19,000 with 1 campaign letter)

Rogers

• Benton County Republican Women
• Sen. Cecile Bledsoe re-election funds ($10,000)
• Emmanuel Baptist Church

Searcy

• Pamela Bell (full funding + yearly fee)
• Searcy Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary

Siloam Springs

• Sylvia Aimerito/Audio Girls Ministry

Springdale

• Northwest Arkansas Respect for Life

Florida (Home Rule State)

Statewide

• Florida Voice for the Unborn

Local

Newberry

• Jordan Marlowe, member of Newberry Planning and Zoning Board ($8,000)

Ocala

• Church of Hope

Georgia

Rock Springs

• Peavine Baptist Church

Indiana

Statewide

• Duke Energy Foundation
• Envoy Companies
• Franciscan Health
• Great Lakes Gabriel Project
• Indiana Right to Life
• Knights of Columbus Indiana (2020 report indicates that nearly $29,000 has been raised by individual chapters for SHBB, but much more has been pledged)
• 1-800 Board-Up

 Local

Angola

• Rayburn Masonry
• Steuben County Community Foundation
• Wagler Foundation

Auburn

• Auburn Church of the Nazarene
• Rick and Viki James (through James Foundation?)

Batesville

• Mary Margaret Health Foundation  (through William & Martha H Hillenbrand  Foundation)

Bedford

• City of Bedford ($1,500)
• Duke Energy Foundation ($15,000)
• Pritchett Brothers Construction

Bloomington

• Sherwood Oaks Christian Church/The Funeral Chapel ($15,000 joint effort)

Booneville

•  Indiana Right to Life Southwest Indiana (donated box)

Brownsburg

• Brownsburg Sertoma Club
• Knights of Columbus #12540
• St. Malachy Catholic Church
• St. Malachy Gabriel Project

Berne

• Adams County Foundation
• Hope Clinic

Celestine

• Dubois County Right to Life
• Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus

Charlestown

• Love’s Endeavor

Chesterton

• Duneland Exchange Club
• Knights of Columbus #12540
• Parishioners for Life, St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church
• St. Francis Episcopal Church
• Town of Chesterton

Clarksville

• Knights of Columbus #1616 – North Vernon ($5,000)
• Speed Memorial Church

Columbia City

• North Central Indiana  Right to Life
• Whitley County Republican Women’s Club

Connorsville

• Hope Center

Corydon

• Bob Bowman Construction ($5,000)
• Harrison County High School Class of 2020 ($13,000–through fundraisers)

Crawfordsville

• Crosspoint Fellowship ($2,600)
• Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
• Franciscan Health Foundation  of Western Indiana
• Tri-County Bank & Trust

Crown Point

• Crown Point 1st Methodist Church

East Chicago

• St. Catherine Hospital ($10,000)

Edgewood

• Team C.J.
• Hope Church

Elkhart

• Elkhart County Right to Life

Elwood City

• Elwood First United Methodist Church Outreach Missions Witness Committee (total cost donated by anonymoujsadonor through church)

Evansville

• City of Evansville (partner)
• Jen Savage (fundraiser – $11,000+)
• Downtown Optimist Club (2022 grant-unspecified amount)
• Right to Life Southwest Indiana

Ferdinand

• Isabella Harmon & Tori Hamerlein (Jasper Middle School Students raised $10,000)
• Memorial Hospital & Healthcare Center
• Precious Blood Catholic Church

Floyd’s Knob

• Eastern Heights Baptist Church

Fort Wayne

• Fort Wayne Lutherans for Life
• Handsome Boys Motorcycle Club
• United Motorcycle Enthusiasts

Fortville

• Hancock County Child Advocacy Center
• Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton
• Hancock County Sheriff’s Department
• St. Thomas Knights of Columbus ($1,500)
• Vernon Township ($8,000)

Franklin

• Bristol Beats ($15,000 donated by Franklin Township Trustees’ Office (Franklin Township Advisory Board)  Money  derived from extra funds earned helping the state process applications for its Covid-19 rental assistance program)
• Franklin Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council
• Johnson County Community Foundation ($8,500 raised before Trustee’s donation. These funds are reported to now be allocated for education material placed in crisis pregnancy centers and stickers for dumpsters)
• KIK-IT (Kids in Crisis-InterventionTeam)

Gary

• Diocese of Gary
• Father’s Heart Church

Greencastle

• American StructurePoint
• Delta Theta Tau ($1,700)
• Greencastle Rotary Club ($250.00)
• IAFF Local 5125
• Mary Allison’s Children’s Trust ($500.00)
• Putman County Community Foundation
• Putnam County Hospital
• Sherwood Christian Church
• Tri-County Bank & Trust

Greenfield

• Family of Trisha Faust Dillman
• Life Choices Care Center

Greensburg

• Decatur County Right to Life
• Lake County Apartments ($1,000)

Hammond

• Franciscan Health Hammond
• Knights of Columbus
• LaHaye Funeral Home

Hanover

• Cornerstone Baptist Church
• Madison Mission
• Norton King’s Daughter’s Health

Hobart

• Monica Wiley, Robert Scott, Art Miller (‘large contributors”)
• Knights of Columbus #12387
• Respect Life Ministry

Huntington

• Huntington County Community Foundation ($5,000)
• Huntington County Right to Life

Jeffersonville

• Eastern Heights Baptist Church ($3,000)

Kendallville

• Black & Ramer Insurance
• Campbell & Fetter Bank
• Diehm Construction
• Hite Funeral Home
• Jasen Family Dentistry
• Noble Industrial Fabrication
• Tipton Law Office
• Trinity United Methodist Church
• Young Family Funeral Home

Kokomo

• Kokomo Knights of Columbus (“initial cost”)
• Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church

Lafayette

• Franciscan Health Foundation
• Lafayette 4th Degree Knights of Columbus ($1,000)

Lake Station

• Friends of Gratitude Helping Together (FIGHT)
• Lake Station Lion’s Club
• Ravinia Pines ($1,800)
• Team National Hope

Lebanon

• Boone County REMC Operation Round-up ($4,000)
• Knights of Columbus #13968
• Saint Joseph Catholic Church
• Tim Toole ($5,000)

Ligonier

• Pastor Chris Coney/Lighthouse Evangelical Church

Linton

• Dennis Smith, Stockton Twn.Trustee (fundraiser)

Logansport

• Pisgah Christian Church
• Right to Life North Central Indiana (“paid for box”)

Lowell

• Eagle Township
• Cedar Creek Township
• Eagle Township
• Lowell Rotary Club
• West Creek Township

Madison

• King’s Daughter’s Health
• Madison Mission ($2,600)

Marion

• Right to Life of North Central Indiana
• Temple Congregational Church

Martinsville

• City of Martinsville (fundraiser)

Merrillville

• Knights of Columbus
• Merrillville Town Council
• St. Andrew’s Women’s Club ($1,000)
• St. James the Less Catholic Church

Michigan City

• Diocese of Gary
• Franciscan Health Foundation
• Knights of Columbus ($1,000)
• LaPorte County Right to Life

Milan

• Madison Mission

Mitchell

• Hoosier Uplands
• Mitchell High School class led by teacher Amy Redman (don’t know name of class)

Mishawaka

•  Knights of Columbus  #553  and 10743 ($10,000)

Mooresville

• Nelson Stanley (organizer)
• Eagles Lodge
• Knights of Columbus
• Mayfield Insurance
• St. Thomas More Church

Mt. Vernon

• Posey County Right to Life

Muncie

• Prevent Child Abuse Council of Delaware County

North Vernon

• North Vernon Knights of Columbus #1631 ($10,000)

Owensboro

• Right to Life of Owensboro

Paoli

• Keegan and Tessa Higgs
• Murat Shriners Lo-Or-Ma ($1,600)
• Orange County Community Foundation ($15,000)
• Paoli Meridan Lions Club (($1,500)
• Springs ValleyBank & Trust ($1,000)

Plainfield

• He Knows Your Name
• Northview Church

Plymouth

• 1st Brethren Church of Teagarden
• Crosswoods Church
• Elks Lodge
• Knights of Columbus
• New Song Church

Princeton 

• Gibson County Right to Life (sponsored box; pays for billboards)
• Alan and Kimberlee Weber ($15,000)
• Firefighters Union #1634

Rensselaer

• Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
• Fransiscan Health – Renssalaer
• Kent Hamstra (fundraiser)
• Knights of Columbus

Rochester

• Right to Life of North Central Indiana
• Rochester Knights of Columbus

Rockport

• Rodney and Cindy Melton (bassinette)

Schererville

• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
• Tri Kappa Associate Chapters in Dyer, Schererville & St. John ($15,000  includes  $2,500 from the City of Schererville)

Scottsburg

• Elevation Church
• Fairview Christian Church
• Knights of Columbus Bingo
• Madison Mission
• Pilot Club of Scott County
• Scott County Community Foundation of Oregon Family Endowment Fund
• Scott County Hospital
• Scott County Kids First
• Scottsburg Lions CLub

Seymour

• Hunter Wart ( fundraiser, $10,000)
• Seymour Knights of Columbus #1252

Shelbyville

• Sherri Davis ($5,000?)

South Bend

•  Knights of Columbus  #553  and #10743 ($10,000)
• St. Joseph County Right to Life
• Shawn Sullivan, Esq.
• South Bend Life Center

Spencer

• Owens County Infant Safety Team

Sunman

• Madison Mission
• Milan (IN) American Legion
• St. Nicholas Church ($11,000)

Syracuse

• Calvary United Methodist Church
• North Central Indiana Right to Life

Terre Haute

• Chad and Natalie Overton ( ERVPRO–funded first box)

Valparaiso

• Center City Rainy Day Fund

Versailles

• Madison Mission

Vevay

• Brushy Fork Baptist Church
• Madison Mission
• Vevay Church of Christ

Vincennes

• Vincennes Knights of Columbus
• Vincennes Moose Lodge

Warsaw

• Kristi Ormsby (fundraiser – $5,000)
• New Life Christian Church & World Outreach
• Right to Life of North Central Indiana  $10,200)
• Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association ($2,000 to NCIRT)

West Terre Haute

• Amy Sitter (fundraiser – $8,000)
• Chad and Natalie Overton (SERVPRO) ($10,000)

Westfield

• Barb Cook (fundraiser – $15,000))
• Grace Church

Zionsville

• Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
• St. Alphonse Liguori Catholic Church ($15,000+)

Iowa

Fort Dodge

• Baker Electric (in kind)
• Fort Dodge Community Foundation & United Way ($12,000)
• Fort Dodge United Way
• Jensen Builders, Ltd (in kind)
• Unity Point Health–Trinity Regional Medical Center
• Webster County Emergency Management
• Webster County Health Department

Kentucky

Statewide

• Fern Creek Christian Church ($60,000 for 4 boxes)
• Isabella Lamkin (Teenage TRA lobbyist/fundraiser)

Local

Ashland

• “Anonymous” (installation fee)
• Two Hearts Pregnancy Center

Fern Creek

• Fern Creek Christian Church (“thousands of dollars

Hodgenville

• James Crume $500)

• Steadfast Baptist Church

London

• Laurel County Life Center
• Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America in Laurel County high schools) (formerly Future Homemakers of America)
• St.Joseph Medical Center

Louisville

• Lesley & Rhyan Prather Foundation

McLean County

• Pathway of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center (Muhlenberg County)

Mt. Washington

• Lions Club of Mt Washington

Okoloma

• Fern Creek Christian Church
• Zonta Club of Louisille

Owensboro

• Dunn Famiy (raised $8,000 by selling their children’s art to donate to RTL-Owensboro)

• Faith Found Me
• Life After Liv 5K Walk/Run
• Right to Life – Owensboro (nearly $9,000 in addition to Dunn Famiy donation)

Pleasure Point

• Fern Creek Christian Church

Powderly

• Pathway of Hope (Greenville)

Radcliff

• Knights of Columbus Council 12623 ($13,975)

Shively

• Fern Creek Christian Church

Louisiana

Statewide

• Louisiana Family Forum
• Louisiana Right to Life

Maine

Statewide

• Catholic Diocese of Portland
• Christian Civic League of Maine
• Concerned Women of America of Maine
• Maine Department of Health and Human Services

Michigan

Statewide

• Michigan Right to Life

Mississippi

• Caitlin & Steve Kelly
• Center for Pregnancy Choices

New Mexico

Statewide

• Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (pledged partial cost of 5 boxes in the state will be covered starting with Hobbs and Espanola)

Belen

• Abundant Life Fellowship ($2,000)
• First Baptist Church of Belen (annual maintenance fee)
• Rio Grande Federated Republican Women

Espanola

• Espanola Firefighters Union (IAFF) #339
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc donated box

Portales

• Roosevelt/Curry County Right  to Life

North Carolina

Jefferson

• Appalachian Church
• Bald Mountain Baptist Church
• Ashe County Chamber of Commerce
• Ashe Baptist Association
• Ashe Medics
• Ashe Pregnancy Care Center
• Ashe County Sheriff’s Office
• Ashe County Social Services
• Ashe Memorial Hospital
• Badges of Ashe
• County of Ashe
• Vannoy Construction

Ohio

Statewide

• Ohio Right to Life

Local

Defiance

• Zonta Club of Defiance ($15,000)

Delhi Township

• Discount Tire Driven to Care Foundation (“cost”)

Greenville

• Corner Shack
• Radiant Lighthouse Church

Harrison

• Reach Out Pregnancy Center

Hicksville

• Hicksville Knights of Columbus Foundation
• Hicksville Rotary Club

Springfield Twn (Toledo)

• Heartbeat of Toledo

Sunbury

• Discount Tire Driven to Care Foundation (“cost”)

Van Wert

• Van Wert Health

South Carolina

Statewide

• Respect Life Committee, Christ Our King Church, Mt. Pleasant (Taylor Smith and Deana Lattanzio plan for boxes in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville)

Tennessee

Greenville

• Anonymous (complete cost)

Hendersonville

• Silvanna Francescutti (raised approx. $23,000)

Jackson

• Old Hickory Rotary Cub
• West Tennessee Healthcare

Knoxville

• Dr. Jim and Laverne Craig/Craig Foundation
• East Tennessee Foundation

Texas

Statewide

• Texas Faith and Freedom Coalition

San Antonio

• Eagle’s Flight Advocacy and Outreach

Virginia

Gatesville

• Hope Fellowship Church

Other National Support

• Anglicans for Life
• Choices for Life
• Focus on the Family
• Kirk Cameron
• Life Issues Institute
• Rebecca Kiessling lawyer, co-founder/board member of Hope After Rape Conception
• Willie Robertson (Duck Dynasty)

Canada

Similar baby boxes, called Angel Cradles and Hope’s Cradle are beginning to appear in Canada with no enabling legislation. Since there is only a tiny number currently, we are listing support by province. See our Canada page for details.

Alberta

• Gems for Gems

Manitoba

• Gems for Gems
• Life Culture

Ontario

• Gems for Gems
• Hope’s Cradle

Updated: June 4, 2023