Lifeline fundraiser to feature ‘God’s Not Dead’ actor
Lifeline Family Center has set Thursday, March 30, as the date for its 21st annual Benefit Dinner, one of its two primary fundraisers of the year.
“Since we do not take any government subsidies, we count on our two fundraisers to operate,” said Lifeline founder Kathy Miller. “We are where we should be to sell out like we did last year. It’s very important for us to sell out.”
David A.R. White, producer and actor in “God’s Not Dead” and “God’s Not Dead 2,” is lined up to be the special guest speaker. “God’s Not Dead” is the most successful independent faith-based film of all time. Thus, White’s studio, Pure Flix, is the most successful Christian film production company in the industry. White has produced nearly 20 other faith-based films.
“I thought David was a fascinating character because of his ‘God’s Not Dead’ movies,” said Miller. “When I did my research on him I found it interesting that he has done motivational speaking.”
Lifeline Family Center provides on campus homes in Cape Coral for young women, ages 16-22, in crisis pregnancies. The center provides educational and job training programs, parenting classes, counseling and spiritual guidance for the young moms and up to two babies for two years in the residences that can serve up to 12 women and 24 babies at a time. The center has helped 158 women and 160 babies since its founding.
Lifeline programs help them become self-supporting members of society. The center is the only residential shelter in Lee County for homeless women not part of the foster care system.
“It is a unique two-year program to help them get past life’s obstacles,” said Miller. “The biggest obstacles are housing, transportation, education and child care. We provide all that.
“They are supervised by house parents and for most of them it is the first time they have lived with a mom and a dad and get to see healthy interaction between loving adults. I’ve learned that there is nothing like a functional family, only varying degrees of dysfunction.”
Lifeline recently launched a capital campaign to raise the funds needed to build four two-bedroom duplex apartments for the women to move into, since they can not afford the high rent of apartment units in Cape Coral.
“We are in the process of permitting with the city and hope to break ground in April,” said Miller. “From there the goal is to become qualified for Habitat housing.”
Lifeline also provides an outreach ministry program to assist with material needs, adoption counseling and resource referrals. That program has helped more than 6,000 women.
Some 600 community leaders are expected to attend the annual benefit dinner at McGregor Baptist Church. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 6:30. Several graduates of the residential program will speak at the benefit about their Lifeline experiences.
Tickets are $70 each or $400 for a table of eight. Sponsorships, which include a VIP reception with White, are available starting at $1,000. Tickets can be purchased by phone (239-242-7238) or online at www.lifelinefamilycenter.org/benefitdinner.