CV NEWS FEED // Professional athletes from the United States and their families raised $7.5 million for Compassion International’s Survival Centers, which provide critical prenatal and early childhood care in developing countries.
A press release from Compassion International states that their campaign, “The Fight for First,” raised enough money to fund 500 survival centers around the world.
Chris Davis, former first baseman for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles; Jaccob Slavin, ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes; and Bradley Pinion, Atlanta Falcons punter, each participated in the campaign.
“We can take for granted how easily accessible healthcare is in America,” Davis said. “For millions of mothers and babies living in poverty around the world, healthcare is a necessity that remains just out of reach — often with devastating consequences.”
Compassion International’s Survival Centers combat infant mortality that often occurs in developing countries due to lack of resources, delivery complications, malnutrition, and preventable diseases.
The centers offer in-home care for the mothers throughout pregnancy and through early childhood, with a specialist teaching parents about prenatal care, early child-rearing, and offering biblical mentoring. They also help parents escape long-term poverty through education and income-generation techniques, and ensure that pregnant mothers have birth attendants during labor.
According to Compassion International’s website, in 2018, the survival program assisted 9,255 births. Nearly 93% of the babies whose mothers participated in the program were born in a normal weight range, and 95% of the babies were born full-term.
“It has been such an honor to work with Compassion on this project, and we are so excited to see how these Survival Centers impact the lives of the women and babies who will now receive lifesaving care,” said Pinion.
Pinion’s wife, Kaeleigh, has also been involved with the campaign. She noted that motherhood comes with many responsibilities and that “worrying about receiving basic healthcare” shouldn’t be one of them.
“Mothers around the world want their babies to thrive,” she added. “That’s why we are proud to come alongside Compassion as they work to support these women, their children and their future.”
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