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Who We Are
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9
Our Vision
Our vision is to be a leader in addressing the cultural, social, spiritual, and economic essentials involved in unplanned pregnancy. We are a grace-filled professional counseling agency empowering women with valuable resources and various communities of support.
Our Mission
Caris Pregnancy Counseling and Resources is a faith-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to see women and children thrive during and after unplanned pregnancy.
Our Calling & Purpose
Caris envisions a world where all followers of Christ work for the dignity and welfare of both the woman and the child involved in an unplanned pregnancy. Women are empowered with the support and resources they need to continue their pregnancies and where the number of abortions is significantly reduced as a result.
TheBoard of Directors
Our Ministry Leaders
PROVERBS 11:14 (NIV)
Gwenn Garmon
BOARD CHAIR
Gwenn was first introduced to Caris over 35 years ago while serving on her church’s Board of Christian Education and Missions, where the congregation supported Caris both financially and through participation in the annual benefit. Alongside her husband, Mike, she developed a deep, personal commitment to the Caris mission. As a retired internist and former Director of a VA Women’s Clinic, she witnessed firsthand the emotional challenges faced by women with unplanned pregnancies, further deepening her resolve to partner with Caris. Her involvement evolved from supporter to Board Member, and now to Chair of the Board, where she leads with faith, wisdom, and humility. She considers it an honor to serve with a faithful board and an exceptional ED/CEO committed to advancing the mission of Caris.
Michael Sharp
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Mike has been an active member of South Park Church in Park Ridge, IL since 1996, serving in children’s and youth ministries, as well as leadership roles including Treasurer and Nominating Committee member. With over 35 years in finance and accounting, including two decades as a C-Suite Finance Officer for major public companies, he brings deep expertise in corporate governance, budgeting, and strategic planning. He and his wife, Lora, are passionate about serving underserved women and children in Chicago. They’ve been foster parents, adoptive parents, and have served with grace-filled organizations like Caris.
Mary Toyama
Secretary
Mary is a member of New Life Community Church Midway, where she leads Women’s Study Groups and coordinates the Prayer Team. Her 17 years as a Bible Study Fellowship leader equipped her to previously facilitate Caris Connection Groups effectively. With a professional background in real estate, Mary brings a commitment to integrity and transparency into her role as Board Secretary, supporting strong communication with clients, partners, and donors. Introduced to Caris in 2005, Mary’s own experience with abortion led her to serve on the intercession team, where she continues to pray faithfully for women facing similar challenges. She actively mentors women and, as a wife of 37+ years and mother of twin daughters, is passionate about helping others grow in God's grace and truth. Her life verse is Acts 20:24.
Bervin Peterson
Member
Berv accepted Jesus as his personal Savior at age 23 and has walked faithfully with Him ever since. He has served as a member and chairman of the elder board at The Moody Church in Chicago since 1980 and was a Board Member at Moody Bible Institute from 1985 to 2015. Professionally, he worked as Manager of Engineering and Technical Services from 1964 to 1977 and has owned and operated real estate investment and redevelopment businesses since 1977. A close friend of Caris' founders, he has supported the ministry since its earliest days. He believes deeply that life is from God and is passionate about serving women and children impacted by unplanned pregnancies through the mission of Caris.
Gina Valentine
Member
executive director/cEO
Gina was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior as a young child. With over 28 years of C-Suite, Fortune 500 business marketing experience. Gina also serves as an Adjunct Professor in The College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the campus advisor for CRU Arts ministry at Columbia College Chicago, where she encourages students to live out their faith creatively and boldly. Gina believes she was called to Caris, having personally experienced an unplanned pregnancy. She wholeheartedly supports Caris’ grace-filled approach, which emphasizes kindness and biblical integrity. As a committed servant leader, Gina strives to submit her life to the Lord daily and lives out her calling through ministry, mentorship, and marketplace influence. Her life verse is, I John 4:19.
WE JOURNEY WITH HER
OurHistory
⇢ 1985
The birth of the ministry. Four Christian women wanted to offer a compassionate, trusted place for women facing unplanned pregnancies.
⇢ 2006
After an extensive internal audit, Caris shifted its model to focus on both women and children involved in an unplanned pregnancy.
⇢ 2009
Caris shifted to a professional counseling model, exclusively employing counselors who hold a master’s degree in a counseling-related field.
⇢ 2011
Caris moved to its new headquarters in the Chicago Loop.
⇢ 2012
Caris adopted a grace and love-filled approach for its programming.
⇢ 2016
Caris created the C₂5 Project extending resources and support to women and children until the child’s 5th birthday.
⇢ 2020
Caris expected to open a satellite location on the Southside of Chicago in partnership with Progressive Baptist Church.
⇢ 2021
Caris introduces online scheduling and Telehealth appointments.
⇢ 2022
Caris presented its first Pop-Up Shop for Moms.
⇢ 2024
Caris introduces the Guiding Light Community Initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your political stance?
Caris is an apolitical nonprofit organization. Our approach is easy, we serve with grace, love and we trust God to do the work we are incapable of doing.
If a woman decides not to carry her pregnancy to term?
We are still available to provide support for her emotional needs. We commit to supporting every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, no matter what her decision is. This is one of our core values.
Do you provide ultrasounds?
Caris partners with a local organization that provides free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.
What can I expect from a counseling session, how long does it take?
A professional counselor will greet you in the waiting room and invite you to a private room. She will spend 45-60 minutes talking with you about what’s going on in your life and how pregnancy may affect it.
What kind of resources can you connect me to?
We are committed to helping you find the support and resources you need during and after an unexpected pregnancy. We provide free resources, community programs, connection groups and workshops!
Do you provide or refer abortions?
No, we do not. She is welcome to schedule an appointment for post-abortion counseling and attend a free abortion redemption workshop.
Does your support extend through age five?
Yes. Our C₂5 Program journeys with both mom/infant/child from conception through the child’s fifth birthday.
How many women do you serve?
At Caris, we focus on quality, intensive, faith-based care rather than operating from a numbers-driven model. We gracefully accept women and families from all backgrounds and faiths, offering free, high-quality, faith-based professional (licensed) counseling, along with a wide range of resources, to anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy throughout Chicagoland and the surrounding suburbs.
What is The Guiding Light Initiative?
The Guiding Light Initiative mobilizes the Caris outreach team into the heart of these communities, offering virtual (telehealth) counseling and tangible resources (i.e., diapers, essential items, etc.). Professional pregnancy counseling ensures that teens can connect with a licensed counselor through text-based appointments and virtual support, meeting today’s youth virtual demand in real time. (In-person counseling is also an option for youth who need a more hands-on approach.)
What is the C₂5 Program?
The C₂5 Program (From Conception to Age 5)
This comprehensive program is designed to journey with the woman and child from conception to age five (C₂5), and includes: Connection Groups, Essentials Boutique, 3:17 Partnership, and Community Resources. This niche program is a long-term, holistic support system that fosters dignity, confidence, and community, equipping teens and women who decide to carry with encouragement and resources she and her child needs to thrive. This journey also includes celebrations like baby showers, important milestones like birthdays, and shared meals, reinforcing that no woman should walk this path alone.
This includes three phases of (clinical) group counseling support:
1. Ignite (Pregnancy to Birth): Providing prenatal education, birth preparation, and emotional support to equip women for a healthy pregnancy and confident delivery.
2. Evolve (Birth to Two Years): Supporting mothers through the critical early years with parenting classes, developmental guidance, and community connections to help them build a strong foundation.
3. Thrive (Ages Three to Five): Empowering families with early childhood development tools, parenting support, and resources to ensure long-term stability and a flourishing future.
Essentials for Mothers and Babies
Material needs should never be a barrier when deciding to parent. Caris provides tangible support to ensure that every expecting and/or new mother has what she needs to care for her child with dignity and confidence.
This includes:
● The Essentials Boutique: Offering diapers, baby clothes, hygiene items, and household necessities at no cost to mothers or families.
● The 3:17 Partnership: Connecting women with churches, donors, and community partners to provide essential, larger items not found in the Essentials Boutique, such as cribs, car seats, double strollers, and groceries – ensuring that no mother has to go without the necessities to care for her child.
● Community Connection: Building long-term support networks by linking women with mentors, churches, and support groups that provide ongoing encouragement, guidance, and a sense of belonging beyond pregnancy.
Meeting a mother’s basic needs is just the beginning. When she has access to resources, relationships, and reliable support, she can move forward with confidence, build a stable foundation for her child, and focus on what truly matters – nurturing, thriving, and shaping a brighter future for her family.
