Project Description
Cover Story
Successful 27th Annual Rose Dinner in West Virginia
Mary Anne Buchanan, WVFL Office Manager
FOX & Friends Weekend host and NY Times best-selling author Rachel Campos-Duffy was relatable, funny, and moving as she keynoted the 27th Annual Rose Dinner on Friday, April 25, in Morgantown. Wife to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and mother of nine, she shared home life stories, especially of their youngest child, Valentina, born with Down Syndrome. She reminded the crowd of over 350 that 90% of unborn children with that diagnosis are aborted in the U.S. because of the strong push by doctors to end the pregnancy.
Rachel said that not one other child in Valentina’s classes has Down Syndrome, and how nice it would be for her daughter to have someone else at school that looks like her.
Rachel said that adding Valentina to their family only made them all more patient, compassionate, authentically tolerant, unconditionally loving and “in the moment.”
Having an immense fondness for special needs children, keynote Rachel Campos-Duffy enjoyed reuniting with Chloe Kondrich in the VIP Room. The two had gotten to know each other over the years as pro-life advocates in the media spotlight. Chloe, along with her father Kurt, of “Embrace Don’t Erase Down Syndrome,” helped West Virginians for Life pass the Unborn Child with Down Syndrome Protection and Education Act in 2022.
The crowd also saw Wanda Franz, Ph.D., transfer the WVFL President role to Board member and Tucker County Chapter Leader Lacey Evans.
State Treasurer Larry Pack gave special remarks. He reminded those in attendance of the major pro-life successes that WVFL has had.
Around $100,000 has been raised but $250,000 total is needed to carry out the “Don’t Swallow the Lie” project, an effort to educate girls and women about the dangers of the abortion pill. WVFL hopes to curb the flow of abortion-minded women traveling the abortion corridor to Maryland with this educational campaign.