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Alpha Center: From Past to Present
A timeline of where we started to where we are now.
It all started in 1984 in the basement of Allen and Leslee Unruh’s home. A dream of saving lives, changing lives, and redeeming lives became a reality. Through many struggles, some defeats, and many successes, the dream built in the basement of a home has grown so large as to purchasing the remains of what used to be a building of death and redeeming it into a ministry of hope.
CLICK HERE to read the Alpha Center history from the perspective of the co-founders, Dr. Allen and Leslee Unruh.
Let’s take a brief look over the Alpha Center's years of service:
1984: A dream becomes a reality, moving from a home basement to an office on Cliff Avenue.
1986: After a long licensing process, Omega Maternity Home opened with the help of 160 volunteers.
1987: Chastity program entitled, “Let’s Talk About Sex” program is presented in colleges. Leslee hosts the nation’s first abstinence television program, “Is Chastity Relevant in the 80’s?”
1988: Alpha Center moves to a new location on Cliff Avenue and an abortion recovery group is started.
1989: Resource library open to the public; abstinence trainings conducted; first ad campaign proves to be a success for post-abortion women.
1990: First Life Chain held by the Alpha Center organization. Many schools add abstinence education. Teen Walk for Life held in 3 South Dakota cities.
1991: Alpha Center becomes a member of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and has a ribbon cutting. Alpha Center sees 850 clients.
1992: First Walk for Life is held. Alpha Center banquet has 1,050 people in attendance.
1993: Leslee leads South Dakota parental notification, 24 hour waiting period and informed consent law. Abstinence resources and Sex Respect curriculum is sent to schools. Alpha Center has expanded radio ads. Take Charge of Your Life provides abstinence training to all South Dakota schools, 525 in attendance.
1994: Omega Home sold to purchase the land to build Alpha Center. New facility is purchased at 801 E. 41st and Alpha Center programs expand.
1995: David Barton co-sponsor of abstinence T.V. program in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, speaks on good citizenship in Sioux Falls.
1996: Post Abortion Memorial Garden construction begins. Seventy volunteers contribute over 10,000 hours through counseling at the Center and hotline, clerical work, mailings, etc. "Tilly" play is performed in eight communities.
1997: Lutherans for Life raises funds for ultrasound machine. Bike for Life-Pastor Nour and David Olson traveled from Armour to Sioux Falls and raised over $6,000 for operating expenses of ultrasound machine and the ultrasound machine was delivered. Alpha Center plants seed for an international abstinence ministry as a sister organization, which would later be known as the National Abstinence Clearinghouse.
1998: Alpha Center becomes a medical clinic.
1999: Memorial Garden completed. Alpha Center: sponsors the first Clean Comedy Night. Miss America visited Alpha Center. Alpha Center starts large campaign; Make Things Right Again, in preparation to purchase the old abortion clinic.
2000: Alpha Center buys old abortion clinic. Alpha Center has a record-breaking 434 total clients in a two-month period. Alpha Center adds STD testing to their services under the Medical Direction, Dr. Glenn Ridder.
2001: Alpha Center continues to have record breaking months. Leslee Unruh undergoes major heart surgery. Miracles on 41st Street book published.
2002: The Alpha Center loses a long-time friend, Wally Cook. Alpha Center continues to have record breaking months.
2003: Alpha Center expands its services through an addition to the back end of the building, and extra room opened up for counseling. A medical assistant is hired to perform ultrasounds and oversee medical aspects of the ministry.
2004: The Truth4Youth program reaches approximately 1,100 students in the 2004-2005 school year with a positive message of abstinence education.
2005: Alpha Center installs a new computer system and software to better track statistics and support the new Earn While You Learn incentive program. A December fire in the building leaves no one hurt but damage was sustained. With more client contacts seen, STD testing nearly tripled from 2004. A bill to ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota passed in the state but was vetoed by Governor Mike Rounds on a technical issue.
2006: HB1217 was referred to a public vote and the Vote Yes for Life campaign was started to ban nearly all abortions in the state. Alpha Center implements the Sexual Integrity Program available to clients on a weekly basis. The ALIVE post-abortion recovery group was started. The Fleet for Little Feet bus was purchased, to go to rural areas and act as a pregnancy center on wheels for communities without those resources. Alpha Center co-sponsors a Purity Ball and Knight to Remember.
2007: Alpha Center staff volunteer at National Abstinence Conference in Minneapolis. Alpha Center receives a grant for an ultrasound from Focus on the Family for the Fleet for Little Feet. The Fleet begins visiting rural communities, providing free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and parenting support.
2008: Vote Yes For Life campaign back at it again! Alpha Center continues its life saving services in Sioux Falls and on the road through the Fleet for Little Feet.
2009: Alpha Center expands the post abortion ministry through new volunteers helping women heal after an abortion.
2010: Alpha Center receives a new ultrasound through partnership with the Knights of Columbus. Alpha Center takes the Fleet for Little Feet into IA in partnership with local sidewalk counselors and the pregnancy center parking directly in front of the abortion clinic.
2011: Alpha Center helps protect women from coerced abortion through assisting in the passage of South Dakota pro life House Bill 1217.
As we forge ahead with new dreams and new goals, we pray that the Alpha Center will continue to save lives, both the lives of the precious unborn and the eternal lives of their moms and dads.
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