Our work builds upon the work of Alpha’s founders. A few years ago, local author Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a book that had a positive impact felt locally and throughout the world. Pay it Forward is a moving novel about Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy who accepted his teacher’s challenge— to come up with a plan to change the world for the better and put that plan into action. Trevor chose three people to gift with a favor, and then asked them to “pay it forward” instead of paying him back. While the results for Trevor were mixed, his approach has caught on.
Nearly 28 years ago, the principle of paying it forward was one of the premises that Alpha’s founders based the organization on...to provide compassionate support to pregnant women and infants who would then contribute back to the community as they matured and their circumstances improved. Today our wonderful volunteers and supporters continue to pay it forward by donating their time, talents and resources to make sure that Alpha’s compassionate services remain available.
Other partners in our work also help pay it forward by enabling us to increase our capacity. This year a grant from the United Way of San Luis Obispo County is making it possible to document all of our activities in a manual so that anyone coming in to the operation can run Alpha by consulting that manual. The Beginnings Collaborative, of which Alpha is a part, is helping us to get the word out about the impact of drug, alcohol and tobacco use on pregnant women and the developing fetus. The impact of many substances extend well beyond birth, some lasting a lifetime. Alpha and the Beginnings program is truly educating the next generation on how their lifestyle choices make a difference. Grants have enabled us to have an expanded presence in North/South County, and we are regularly adding clients at our Grover Beach and Atascadero locations that would likely never have made it to our San Luis Obispo office.
You too make a difference. Thank you for all your help in this work...we appreciate and count on you!
