By Anne Marie Amacher
Prolife Across America Director Mary Ann Kuharski will speak at two events in the Iowa Quad-City area next weekend.
A ladies luncheon for life will be held Nov. 12 at noon at the Women’s Choice Center in Bettendorf. Kuharski will speak on “Raising Kids in a Secular Culture with Humor and Prayer.” Tickets are $10.
On Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m., the Legion of Mary at Holy Family Parish in Davenport will host Kuharski, who will speak on “Marriage and Family – A Vocational Call” in the church. A reception will follow in Enright Hall. A free-will offering will be taken in the church.
Sandi Hansen of Holy Family Parish said she heard Kuharski speak at a women’s retreat in Moline, Ill. “She was such an engaging speaker with a great sense of humor, and also quite inspiring.
“It is obvious she has a very deep faith and a passion to save the unborn.”
Hansen said each year the Legion of Mary hosts a speaker or retreat to enhance the “spiritual development of the people in our community. This year we really wanted our speaker to target families since the family is under attack in our society. Mary Ann seemed like the perfect fit.”
Kuharski, who is Catholic, is a mother of 13 children – six of whom are adopted, of mixed races and with special needs. She also is a grandmother to 17. Kuharski and her husband, John, are members of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Minneapolis.
In addition to being a speaker on life and family issues, Kuharski is an author and a founding member and president of Prolife Across America. That group also is referred to as the “billboard people” for its positive and educational billboard messages.
This fall, Prolife Across America’s billboard campaign focuses on fathers. This year’s goal is to surpass last year’s sponsorship of more than 1,000 radio ads and 6,500 billboards in 41 states, according to Prolife Across America’s website.
Kuharski has also been a volunteer counselor offering support to women with problem pregnancies. She is an advisory board member of the National Council for Adoption and previously served on the Minnesota Governor’s Task Force regarding children with handicaps and special needs. She has testified twice in Congress regarding adoption-related issues and has appeared on television and radio programs.
In 2006, Kuharski received the Catholic Woman of the Year Award from the National Catholic Daughters of America. In 2008 she received the Leading with Faith Award from the Archdiocese of St. Paul, Minn.
For more information on either speaking engagement or to make reservations for the Women’s Choice Center event, contact Hansen at (563) 445-6442 or by email at samiam2625@yahoo.com.
