On July 1, 1997, Real Alternatives (formerly the Morning Star Project WIN Advisory Council) was awarded the statewide alternative to abortion services program grant with the Department of Public Welfare.

A statewide toll free hotline (1-888-LIFE AID) was implemented and the program experienced dramatic growth: 18 new pregnancy centers were added, and an average of 620 new women were served each month.

Real Alternatives CEO testified before a U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee interested in learning about the success of Pennsylvania’s Alternative to Abortion Services Program.

State program funding was increased to $3.1 million per year for fiscal years 1997-1999. During that two year contract period ending in June 1999, 15,672 women were served.

As the result of a new contract being signed, state program funding increased to $4.2 million per year.

U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R) and U.S. Congressman Joe Pitts (R) introduced the Women & Children’s Resources Act (S. 1605/H.R. 2901) in September 1999 in an effort to replicate Pennsylvania’s success on a national basis.

Real Alternatives educated organizations from Missouri and Kansas interested in providing government-funded alternatives to abortion services for women in their state.

Real Alternatives educated organizations from Michigan interested in providing government-funded alternative to abortion services for women in their state.

Missouri started its own government-funded alternative to abortion services program.

In Pennsylvania, a record of 11,397 women were served during fiscal year 1999-2000.

Real Alternatives educated organizations from Florida, Wisconsin, and North Dakota interested in providing government-funded alternative to abortion services for women in their state.

U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R) queried the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) about the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for alternative to abortion services programs. HHS approved use of funds. 

Former Governor Mark Schweiker (R) increased the funding of the Pennsylvania program with $1 million of TANF money making him the first governor in the nation to use federal funds in the program.

“Real Alternatives steers women into the reassuring hand of service providers and away from fear and uncertainty.”   Then-Lt. Governor Mark Schweiker at 4th Annual PA Alternative to Abortion Services Program Banquet.

In fiscal year 2000-2001,13,426 women were served through the Pennsylvania program.

Real Alternatives was a finalist for the Nonprofit Innovation Awards sponsored by the Central Penn Business Journal based on the cost-savings of its then newly-automated billing system for the Pennsylvania program.

Real Alternatives educated organizations from Louisiana, Nebraska, and Ohio interested in providing government-funded alternative to abortion services for women in their state. Louisiana ultimately followed Pennsylvania’s lead by using TANF funds for alternative to abortion services.

The Pennsylvania program funding level was increased to $5.3 million, including $1 million of TANF funds.

During fiscal year 2001-2002, 15,202 women in Pennsylvania were served.

The Pennsylvania program experienced a record low administrative cost ratio of 8.54%.

Real Alternatives educated organizations from Tennessee, Georgia, and Iowa interested in providing government-funded alternative to abortion services for women in their state.

During fiscal year 2002-2003, the number of women served by the Pennsylvania program increased to 16,574.

Real Alternatives was one of the first four nonprofits in Pennsylvania to earn the “Seal of Excellence” from the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) for successfully completing the Standards for Excellence certification program.

Real Alternatives was selected for the second time as a finalist for the Nonprofit Innovation Awards by the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal for its statewide outcome measurement collection process for the Pennsylvania program.

Real Alternatives educated organizations from Texas and South Dakota interested in providing government-funded alternative to abortion services for women in their state.

During fiscal year 2003-2004, 17,253 clients were served in Pennsylvania.

Real Alternatives CEO met with White House Faith-Based Initiative Office and presented the Pennsylvania program.

With the approval of the Faith-Based Organization Policy by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare on June 17, 2005, Real Alternatives allowed to invite new faith-based service providers to the program.

The number of women served by the Pennsylvania program during fiscal year 2004-2005 was 17,233.

Total women served by the Pennsylvania program tops 100,000 women at over 440,400 visits.

A Spanish version of the Real Alternatives’ website was produced and implemented.

State legislatures in Nebraska, North Dakota, Florida, Texas, and Minnesota fund Alternative to Abortion Services programs in their states.

New faith-based organizations started applying to become service providers under the Pennsylvania program.

The number of women served by the Pennsylvania program during fiscal year 2005-2006 was 16,600.

The Pennsylvania Alternative to Abortion Services Program became a national program!  The Texas Health and Human Services Commission signed a $2.5 million a year agreement with Texas Pregnancy Care Network, a nonprofit, to provide statewide government-funded alternatives to abortion using Real Alternatives to replicate the highly recommended Pennsylvania Alternative to Abortion Services in Texas.

"For those who want to lower abortion or make abortion rare - this is the model for America."  Kevin I. Bagatta, Esq. with Vincent Friedwald III, Esq. after Real Alternatives successfully trained the staff of Texas Pregnancy Care Network on how to operate the government-funded alternative to abortion program in Texas.