The Nurturing Network, founded by American business executive and author, Mary Cunningham Agee, is an international charitable organization dedicated to relieving abuse, neglect and exploitation. The organization states that its purpose is to provide educational resources and support to those who are most vulnerable.The Nurturing Network 2009 Annual Report, Frye Printing, Napa, CA, 2010
The Nurturing Network describes its strategic approach as collaborative. Their mission states that the provision of education, training, service and mentoring in cooperation with individuals, foundations, corporations and compatible organizations is an effective method for defeating all forms of human bondage.
History and founding
The loss of her first child in a second trimester miscarriage in 1984,The business of nurturing, Alica Blaisdell-Bannon, Cape Cod Times, August 20, 1987Mary Cunningham's Nurturing Network, Theresa Rebeck, St. Anthony Messenger, Vol.96 No.12, May 1989For Women in Trouble, a Network of Care, Lisa Ferguson, New Covenant, December 1991 caused Agee to examine the scope of resources available to women whose pregnancies are terminated through abortion. Agee reported research that revealed, "Nine out of ten women experiencing a crisis pregnancy feel they have only one option: abortion."Network of Hope, Una McManus, Reader's Digest, November 1991Mary Cunningham Agee, Pro-Life Christians, Heroes for the Pre-Born, Joe Gulotta, Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford, IL, 1992Turning Sorrow into Joy: The Nurturing Network, Ellen G. Pearson, Celebrate Life, July–August 1997Choosing Birth, Una McManus, The Catholic Digest, November 1990Executive for the Unborn, Ellen Santilli Vaughn, Christianity Today, March 7, 1994Nurturing Network's founder addresses needs of women, Loretta Pehanich, The Valley Catholic, June 1992 This awareness prompted Agee to found the Nurturing Network in an effort to increase the availability and range of alternatives for women confronting this situation. The Network's founding documents reflect the view that women wanting to exercise their choice for birth often do not have the financial, medical, social or emotional resources necessary to carry out this decision.Compassion in Action, Maternal Profiles in Courage, Mary Cunningham Agee, Cypress Press, Monterey, CA 2006A Working Woman's Network Into Motherhood, Tim W. Ferguson, Business World, The Wall Street Journal, September 4, 1990The Nurturing Network, Helping Women to Choose Life, Laura White, The Family, May 1989Nurturing Network, One woman's vision helps many, David Proctor, The Idaho Statesman, November 3, 1991Boardroom to the Battle for Life, Karen Walker, National Catholic Register, Vol.74 No.8, February 1998The Nurturing Network, Jean Libman Block, Good Housekeeping, November 1991A Dream on Canvas, Stacy Mattingly, Crisis Magazine, XIII, No.11, 1996A Pro-Nurturing Alternative to Abortion, Colman McCarthy, The Washington Post, July 26, 1994Choosing Life, With a Little Help, Aimee Howard, Insight on the News, The Washington Times, June 1999What One Woman Can Do, Terry Martin, The Forum, March 1993They bring life out of chaos and pain, Karen A. Walker, Our Sunday Visitor, Vol.87, No.23, October 1998 In 1985, The Agee's sold their vacation home to generate start-up funds to form the 501c3 charitable organization.A practical compassion, Deirdre Frontcazk, North Coast Catholic, April 2011Mary Cunningham Agee's nature is to nurture, Mitch Finley, Our Sunday Visitor, January 19, 1992The Nurturing Network offers 'choice', Colette Cowman, The Idaho Register, Vol.XXXII, No.33, January 12, 1990For Women in Trouble, a Network of Care, Lisa Ferguson, New Covenant, December 1991Mary Cunningham Agee's Nurturing Network, Columbia, January 1991 Agee reported at the time of founding TNN and subsequently in "Senate testimony" that, "Most government and social programs were specifically designed to meet the needs of unwed teenagers. There was little support for college or working women who were expected to be able to take care of themselves."Whole Lotta Love for Moms & Babies, Culture of Life, Gina Giambrone, National Catholic Register, January 14–20, 2007Foot Soldiers for Life, Mary DeTuris Poust, Our Sunday Visitor, January 21, 2007Pro-Life -94: A New Life for Women in Crisis, Mitch Finley, New Covenant, January 1994 Agee sought to fill this void by raising awareness that this segment of women were, "Most likely to face family rejection, social stigma, and educational or career discrimination."From Tears to Joy, Una McManus, Today's Christian Woman, November–December 1997Say Less, Do More, Eleanor K. Schoen, The Catholic World Report, February 2009Taking the Crisis out of Crisis Pregnancy, Brain K. O'Neel, Franciscan Way, February 1998From the Boardroom to the Battle for Life, Karen Walker, National Catholic Register, February 1998The Nurturing Network: An Option for Life, Empowerment, Patricia Hogan and John Carlisle, April 1993The Nurturing Network, Jean Libman Black, Good Housekeeping, November 1991Helping Unwed Mothers is What I Was Meant to Do, Virginia Evers, Living World, Winter 1988
Founding philosophy
Freedom of choice: TNN bases its program on the fundamental concept expressed by its Founder, Mary Cunningham Agee, that "freedom of choice without options is meaningless."Mother Nurture, Tracy Moran, Envoy Magazine, July–August 1999Network of Hope, Una McManus, Reader's Digest, November 1991Mary Cunningham Agee, Pro-Life Christians, Heroes for the Pre-Born, Joe Gulotta, Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford, IL, 1992 With access to complete information in a supportive, unbiased, non-judgmental environment, "women will be free to make sound decisions for themselves and their children."The Nurturing Network, Jean Libman Black, Good Housekeeping, November 1991Say Less, Do More, Eleanor K. Schoen, The Catholic World Report, February 2009Healing Broken Hearts One at a Time, Joann C. Webster & Karen Davis, A Celebration of Women, Watercolor Books, Southlake, TX, 2001Choosing Life, With a Little Help, Aimee Howd, Insight in the News, The Washington Times, June 1999
Personal worth: Documents about the organization's mission and philosophy written by Agee state that "The Network, through its connection to thousands of local volunteers and other programs, seeks to enhance the self-esteem of every woman served – without regard to race, creed or economic circumstances."A practical compassion, Deirdre Frontcazk, North Coast Catholic, April 2011Two Roads to Success, Deirdre Sullivan, Management Review, August 1998
Growth through suffering: The Nurturing Network's Founder emphasizes in her speeches and writing that, "Personal growth is often achieved through personal suffering. A positive response to a crisis pregnancy has the potential to catalyze significant personal insight along with a deepened compassion that will expand to benefit many others."Compassion in Action, Maternal Profiles in Courage, Mary Cunningham Agee, Cypress Press, Monterey, CA 2006A Win-Win Answer to Abortion, Caryn Kirby Coulter, Catholic Twin Circle, July 10, 1994The Shepherd Speaks, Donald W. Trautman, Lake Shore Visitor, September 28, 1990In the eye of the needle, Mitch Finley, Our Sunday Visitor, January 26, 1992A Call to Effective Action: When Being Right is Not Enough, Mary Cunningham Agee, Respect Life Program, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2004
Client service
Since its founding, the Nurturing Network (TNN) reports having served thousands of women by mobilizing volunteer resource members throughout the United States and in 33 foreign countries.The Nurturing Network: Serving the Urgent and Practical Needs of Mothers in Crisis for 25 Years, Mary Cunningham Agee, Frye Printing, Napa, CA 2007, Second Printing 2010The Nurturing Network 2009 Annual Report, Frye Printing, Napa, CA 2010Hana and the Nurturing Network - A Love Story, Mitch Finley, Liguorian, January 1992Network of Compassion, Mary Cunningham Agee, Lay Witness, June 1992Connecting Responsibility with Freedom, Mary Cunningham Agee, Ideas Matter, Quarterly Newsletter of the National Policy Forum, Fall 1994Communicating a Culture of Life, Mary Cunningham Agee, Lay Witness July–August 1998 Mary Cunningham Agee's book, "Compassion in Action: Maternal Profiles in Courage," features the stories of the thousands of women whom TNN has helped in its first two decades of service.Compassion in Action, Maternal Profiles in Courage, Mary Cunningham Agee, Cypress Press, Monterey, CA 2006 One third of the women who seek assistance from TNN are the result of referrals from crisis pregnancy centers.
Member resources and collaboration
The Nurturing Network leveraged its resources by recruiting local "Clusters" of resources in communities and college campuses nationwide.A practical compassion, Deirdre Frontcazk, North Coast Catholic, April 2011The Nurturing Network, Joan Kurkowksi-Gillen, North Coast Catholic, April 27, 1994The Nurturing Network, Campus Ministry Bulletin, Loyola College of Maryland, April 1993The President's Corner, Father Michael Scanlan, The Troubador, Franciscan Life, September 1997 TNN volunteer members offered services in core resource areas by providing a supportive home environment, emotional counseling, employment, legal and medical services, educational opportunities and other forms of support.A Working Woman's Network Into Motherhood, Tim W. Ferguson, Business World, The Wall Street Journal, September 4, 1990The Nurturing Network, Helping Women to Choose Life, Laura White, The Family, May 1989 The Network's service program emphasized the importance of collaboration.Arms Unfolded, Todd Whitmore, The Notre Dame Magazine, Summer 2005Golden Treasures for the King: The Nurturing Network at the Sisters of Life, Sisters of Life, Issue 15, Winter 2002Nurturing Network cluster forming in Palm Beaches, Gema Fernandez, The Florida Catholic, October 15, 1998A Call to Effective Action: When Being Right is Not Enough, Mary Cunningham Agee, Respect Life Program, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2004 utilizing its website, word of mouth and media coverage to communicate its mission and support other programs whose goals are compatible.Mary Cunningham Agee, Women's Activists' Writings - An Anthology, 1637-2002, Kathryn Cullen-Dupont, Cooper Square Press, New York, New York, p.544-556, 2002Building a Culture of Life, Mary Cunningham Agee, The Human Life Review Vol.XXVIII, Nos.1 &2, pg 53-75, Winter-Spring 2002
Inadequacy of the public debate
The Nurturing Network's Founder states that the experience of having an unplanned pregnancy, "Has, unfortunately, become synonymous with having only one viable option: Abortion. This has divided well-intentioned people and organizations into polarized camps of 'pro-choice' and 'pro-life.'"Compassion in Action, Maternal Profiles in Courage, Mary Cunningham Agee, Cypress Press, Monterey, CA 2006A Win-Win Answer to Abortion, Caryn Kirby Coulter, Catholic Twin Circle, July 10, 1994 Agee contends that "since these two concepts are not logical opposites, the issue can never be resolved through rhetoric or political debate." The organization's presents its non-confrontational style as a prototype of how many divisive issues could be approached in a healing way.A Pro-Nurturing Alternative to Abortion, Colman McCarthy, The Washington Post, July 26, 1994Choosing Life, With a Little Help, Aimee Howard, Insight on the News, The Washington Times, June 1999The Nurturing Network: An Option for Life, Empowerment, Patricia Hogan and John Carlisle, April 1993