Ashley Bratcher is a pro-life actress who recently had a starring role in the film “Unplanned” playing former Planned Parenthood clinic manager Abby Johnson. Now, she is launching a scholarship program to empower women who choose life.
The initiative is called the Unplanned Movie Scholarship. This scholarship is a partnership between Bratcher and Heartbeat International, a faith-based organization that supports crisis pregnancy centers worldwide.
Bratcher tweeted:
I'm so excited to announce that I've partnered w/ @HeartbeatIntl to launch the @UnplannedMovie Scholarship to offer moms facing unplanned pregnancies educational scholarships so they can continue pursuing their dreams while raising their children. 💜👶👩🎓 https://t.co/CbcsUHpZkS
— Ashley Bratcher (@_AshleyBratcher) August 16, 2019
The description of the scholarship initiative states:
While plans may shift when the unexpected happens, it doesn’t mean that dreams need to stop completely. Inspired by her role as Abby Johnson in the movie Unplanned, Ashley Bratcher is partnering with Heartbeat International, the largest pregnancy help network in the world, to offer moms facing unplanned pregnancies educational scholarships so that they can continue pursuing their dreams while raising their babies.
The fund will offer qualifying mothers a $5,000 annual scholarship so that they can continue their education.
Bratcher has consistently served as a pro-life voice in the entertainment industry. She was inspired to launch this scholarship program after receiving a flood of messages from women following the release of “Unplanned.” She explained:
Some described the sacrifices they made in choosing life, and some were currently facing unplanned pregnancies that they feared would interfere with completing or attending college…Women can pursue their careers, live out their dreams, and have richer, more fulfilling lives while balancing motherhood. Sometimes it just takes a little help.
During filming for “Unplanned,” Bratcher’s pro-life advocacy got a little more personal when her mother revealed that she almost chose abortion over life. She made it all the way to the abortion clinic, and only changed her mind when a very pregnant nurse walked into the room.
“I felt sick. I couldn’t do it. I got up and walked out,” Bratcher’s mom told her. “I chose you.”
Kudos to Bratcher and Heartbeat International for establishing this scholarship fund. In a cultural moment when pro-lifers are condemned for “only caring about children before they’re born,” the fund is a great reminder that pro-lifers often do care for both mother and child, born and unborn.