Richland Pregnancy Services kicks-off its two-day annual fundraising banquet at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center in Mansfield.
   

RPS executive director Pam Crank said this year marks the celebration of 25 years of RPS serving the Richland County area. 

RPS is a Christ centered medical clinic which empowers individuals to make informed choices when facing an unplanned pregnancy.

"Our agency provides a service to our community that's very valuable. We reach out to young men and women when they're faced with an unplanned pregnancy. We want to supply them with medical services, material,  emotional and spiritual support," Crank said.

The guest speaker for the celebration was Melissa Ohden a survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion in 1977.
 

Ohden works with individuals and organizations across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, raising awareness of the impact of abortion on women, men, families and communities.

"What is most important to me is that pregnancy centers like this one in Mansfield are places where people can go to receive services and support. In my own life what I know is that my mother didn't have a place like this to go to back in 1977. My mother was a college student when she faced an unplanned pregnancy and what my mother knew was where to go for an abortion. She didn't know there were other people in places that could support her and inform her of what other options existed out there," Ohden said.

"I want to thank the center for what its doing in this community and thank the supporters of this ministry," Ohden said.

The fundraising banquet will continue Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All funds raised at the event will go to continue the work of the RPS.

Crank said RPS also kicked off its three-year $1.5 million capital campaign for a new building. RPS is currently located at 605 S. Trimble Rd. The new building will be located at the corner of Home Rd. and West Fourth St. Crank said the new building will be completed in June 2013.