2005 Espiritu Award Bestowed to Homeless Prenatal Program

"Healthy, joyful pregnancies and childbirth are too often the privilege of the wealthy. Homeless Prenatal Program brings love and a sense of community to daughters and sisters whose own families are unable to care for them. No one is ever sent away without being seen. Over ninety percent of its pregnant clients deliver normal birth weight babies; ninety-five percent of these babies are also born drug-free. How could we not support them?" --ISABEL ALLENDE
The Homeless Prenatal Program was honored as one of four recipients of the 2005 Espiritu Award. In 2001, Isabel Allende, the acclaimed author, created the Espiritu Awards to bring attention to and financially support nonprofits working in the areas of empowerment and protection of women and children. Isabel Allende established her foundation in December 1996 to pay tribute to her deceased daughter, Paula. "It is in giving that I connect with others, that my life has meaning, and that I can feel Paula's spirit present in the world," she says. Four nonprofit groups located in the San Francisco Bay Area were honored with grants of $12,500 each. Other recipients of this year’s award include Center for Young Women's Development, GirlSource, and Legal Services for Children. Speaking of her 2005 grantees Allende says, "What we do is nothing compared to what the women and children these agencies serve do to better their own lives. Their stories are so moving." Martha Ryan, Carla Roberts and Sonia Batres represented HPP at the awards which were presented on October 2, 2005 at a women's circle facilitated by renowned teacher and author, Jean Shinoda Bolen. Her book, The Millionth Circle, has been the inspiration for women's circles worldwide. Her most recent book, Urgent Message from Mother, was published in September, 2005.