Monday, March 4, 2013

Pro-life film Crescendo kicks off mission to raise $10 million for crisis pregnancy centres

by Carol Maxwell

March 4, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In January, the makers of the short film Crescendo announced that Pattie Mallette, Justin Bieber’s mother, became one of the executive producers and will actively promote it through Movie to Movement, an organization with a mission to advance a “culture of life, love, and beauty,” according to its website.

Through the showing of Crescendo, which dramatizes the true story of the near abortion of a prominent figure whose talent has impacted the world, Movie to Movement is hoping to raise a total of $10 million for crisis pregnancy centers. On February 28, 2013, kick-off events premiered the film all over the country, and San Diego’s Culture of Life Family Services (COLFS) hosted one that attracted over 450 supporters, including Bishop Cirilo Flores.

Jason Jones, one of the producers of the film, was the speaker at the event at St. Thérèse of Carmel Catholic Church. Arriving early and staying late, Jones generously chatted with attendees, answered questions, and posed for photographs.

“This film serves our cause to defend life,” explained Jones, whose personal story has propelled him to work in support of crisis pregnancy centers all over the world.

When Jones was 17 years old, his pregnant girlfriend’s father forced her to have an abortion at six months. The father discovered their secret when the girlfriend sought to obtain prescription vitamins. After the procedure, the abortionist announced that the baby was a girl. Crescendo is dedicated to “Jessica Jones,” their aborted baby, who would have been 23 years old.

Jones believes that, if a pregnancy center was available to his girlfriend to take care of her pre-natal needs, their daughter would be alive today. He contrasts his experience with that of Pattie Mallette, who was a pregnant teenager under intense pressure to abort but was saved by a crisis pregnancy center.

“We originally made this film to release on YouTube to share and promote human dignity through social media. But the response of its showing at film festivals was overwhelmingly positive, so we decided to use it as a fundraiser for pregnancy centers. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for each center that sponsors a showing of Crescendo,” Jones revealed as he excitedly waited for the start of the COLFS’ event.

Culture of Life Family Services is unique in that it is a full-functioning medical clinic with two locations and three doctors who serve the entire community. Crisis pregnancy patients who cannot afford healthcare are seen at no charge and are assigned a counselor who attends to all of their life needs during pregnancy and beyond. Paying patients and generous supporters cover the cost of these services. Dr. George Delgado, medical director at COLFS, also spearheads AbortionPillReversal.com, helping physicians all over the world reverse the effect of Mifepristone, the active ingredient in the chemical abortion pill RU-486.

COLFS president Scott Maxwell expressed the emotion palpable at the event. “Seeing the large crowd and their reaction to the film tells me that the pro-life movement is vibrantly alive and strong in San Diego," he said. "Planned Parenthood relies on government funding to further their murderous mission. We rely on donors who believe, with all their hearts, in doing the right thing and who show their commitment through funding whatever is needed to save lives. With the help of Jason Jones and Crescendo, we’ll be able to do even more to reach women in crisis pregnancies.”

The movie, which won Best Short Film at the 2012 Hollywood Film Festival, is being shown around the country, in Canada, 25 cities in Mexico, and Brussels, Belgium, so far. To expand the fundraising impact, Churches also can sponsor the film and give proceeds to their local pregnancy centers.

Contact Movie to Movement to find out how you can help promote a culture of life in your community through a showing of Crescendo.

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