Council for Life held its 25th anniversary luncheon Thursday at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow spoke to the crowd of about 1,500 about faith, sacrifice and protecting vulnerable lives. He asked attendees whether their time, energy and resources were going toward what mattered most. He also told a story about a young man facing jail time whose seven friends came to his court hearing and stayed all day. According to Tebow, the judge allowed the young man to go home.
The group was founded in 2001 by 11 Dallas women to support women, families and unborn children. It said the pregnancy centers it supports have helped more than 100,000 mothers choose to continue their pregnancies over 25 years. Honorees included founder emeritus Ann Carruth, who received a special award presented by fellow founder Lisa Troutt.
This year's fundraising effort supports 33 beneficiaries, with a goal of more than $2 million. The group projected its grants would help support more than 78,000 pregnancy-center visits in 2026. The Lunsford Foundation has offered a $250,000 matching grant to encourage additional donations.