I met Lisa Stiefken eleven years ago when she first became the Director of the San Bernardino Pregnancy & Family Resource Center. I watched as she hired staff, trained volunteers, drummed up donations, struggled to make payroll (though she sometimes went without pay herself), and grow it into the thriving organization it is today. Lisa would be the first to say that God gave her the grace and strength to persevere, but it’s still true that she’s overcome enormous personal and professional hurdles. She persisted because this is what she believes she’s called to do. Lisa Stiefken has more grit than anyone I know.

Briefly, the last several years of Lisa’s life have included great loss. Lisa’s husband, Chuck, died and left her struggling with financial concerns. She regained her footing only to encounter additional heartache, the greatest of which was the unexpected death of her son, Brady, in March. Lisa is once again faced with a funeral, and no cash to pay for it. As is often the case, financial troubles flock together, and she’s discovered that she owes taxes beyond what she can pay. Also, Lisa has a brother who is contending with Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s causing problems with his memory now. She has a trip planned to see him in May, before his struggling memory erases her.

Knowing Lisa has brought me some of the greatest joys of my life. My daughter and her husband are the parents of a wonderful little girl who came to our family through adoption. Lisa had a role in that, and we will be forever grateful to her. There are families in our community who are thriving because of the services and care they’ve received at the pregnancy center, and people are alive today because their mothers saw them on an ultrasound screen. The employees and volunteers at the pregnancy center open their arms and hearts to people who are overwhelmed and hopeless, and our community is blessed because of them.

My daughter, Kristen, and I are starting this Go Fund Me account to bless Lisa, and give her some relief in this time of deep grief. We hope to help Lisa pay for the needs of the moment, as well as the time she needs with her brother.

Sincerely,
Sonja Bates