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Fathers have always been an important part of the pro-life movement, offering strength, compassion, and conviction in the fight to protect unborn children. This Father’s Day, we’re honoring the dads at SBA who bring that commitment to their work and their families every day. In this article we talk with them about how fatherhood has shaped their lives and deepened their dedication to defending life.

Before becoming a father, Andrew, SBA’s Digital Director, says his opposition to abortion was rooted in logic and ethics. But fatherhood brought two deeper realizations.

“First, the helplessness and innocence of a newborn completely destroyed the argument that dependency justifies abortion. My kids were just as dependent on me and my wife after birth. Second, I developed a stronger empathy for parents facing unplanned pregnancies. Parenting is hard. That’s real.”

For Andrew, even small moments with his kids drive home the truth about life. One of the most powerful happened nearly a decade ago.

“My then-22-month-old son, Scheidler—named after Joe Scheidler, the godfather of the pro-life movement—saw an ultrasound sticker on my laptop and immediately said, ‘Baby!’ No one told him what it was, he just knew. Then just a few weeks ago, he was in tears thinking about what happens in every abortion. That tells me something. The value of life isn’t something we need to be taught—it’s something we know. Some people just suppress that truth.”

Andrew also reflected on how critical it is for fathers to be present and engaged with their families.

“When a father chooses to be absent, when he fails to be more than just a sperm donor and actually be a dad, what chance do his sons have? Fathers bear a huge responsibility to raise young men who are responsible, who stick around, and who understand their duty to in turn raise sons who respect women and welcome new life. from Charlotte Lozier Institute found that 60% of women who chose abortion would have preferred to keep their child. How many lives could have been saved if the fathers of these children had stepped up?”

Nesti, SBA’s Director of Advancement Relations, says having children changed how he viewed nearly everything.

“When your kids are born, it’s like a punch in the face to your ego,” he said. “You start to realize that a lot of the things you thought were important—aren’t. Your priorities shift. Suddenly, life isn’t about you anymore.”

He emphasized how often society downplays the role of fathers.

“We’ve spent so much time talking about how important mothers are, and of course they are. But we often overlook the role of a father. As kids grow up, you can really see the effects of a father’s absence. A dad brings something unique to the table—confidence, stability, a kind of presence that really shapes who a child becomes.”

When it comes to the fear some people feel about having kids, Nesti is candid.

“So many people are scared to have kids because they think it’ll derail their goals,” he said. “But that’s a mistake. Children are a gift from God. My wife and I might have gone further in our careers if we didn’t have kids—but if you ask us if we would trade our family for more career success, the answer is unequivocally no.”

Billy Valentine, SBA’s Vice President of Political Affairs and father of five, spends his days shaping pro-life policy—and his evenings raising a family. That balance, he says, keeps his work grounded.

“Pro-life policy and political work is… political. It is messy. You’re operating in an imperfect system, trying to move the ball forward. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of politicking or policymaking that you can easily lose sight of what you’re fighting for to begin with. Getting home from work and seeing your kids is a daily reminder of what you’re fighting for.”

Being a father has also reshaped how he thinks about supporting women in difficult situations.

“Being a parent is the most challenging yet rewarding thing I’ve ever done and likely will ever do. I’ve always been pro-life, but being a parent gives you a new perspective when thinking about women and families facing unplanned pregnancies. Every expecting parent has a ton of question marks running through their mind – I am sure those question marks are even bigger and multiply substantially when the pregnancy is unplanned. We as a movement need to come alongside those facing these challenges and do whatever we can to shrink the number of question marks by providing real support.”

And he’s hopeful about what the future could look like—for the country and for his kids.

“If our pro-life Congress does its job, we are on the verge of defunding big abortion led by Planned Parenthood in a substantial way for the first time ever. I’m excited that my children will live in an America that no longer uses our tax dollars to prop up our nation’s #1 abortion business. This will be a tremendous win that puts our movement back on offense so we (and our children) can secure even more wins.”

When he thinks about the long-term impact of his work, it’s deeply personal.

“Our president Marjorie Dannenfelser constantly reminds us to think about what it means to save even one life in the work that we do. I know a pregnancy care center who always comments ‘the world will never be the same’ any time a friend or family member has a child. At first glance, it seems like an overstatement, but in reality, it is true. The pro-life movement, if successful, truly changes the direction of the future, one life at a time.”

Charlie, a Donations and Processing Associate at SBA, became a grandfather when his daughter Kathleen adopted a little boy who had originally been scheduled to be aborted. He describes the adoption—and his grandson’s life—as nothing short of miraculous.

“It took a lot of things going right for Kathleen to adopt him. I believe it was a miracle that I became that little boy’s grandfather,” he said. “My whole perception of the pro-life movement changed. It’s no longer a general feeling—it’s personal now.”

Charlie has now seen three generations of his family come together in the cause for life.

“Myself, my daughter, and now my grandson—we’re all connected by this mission. And I hope the next generation sees through the pro-abortion mindset for what it is: a lack of respect for life, and a willingness to substitute convenience for compassion.”

He’s also seen how much misunderstanding surrounds adoption.

“There’s this idea that adoption is just too hard. And sure, it’s not easy. But that perception keeps people from trying. I’d like to see that change.”

For Rae, SBA’s Safety and Security Director, being a dad is all about protection—and purpose.

“It means I’m working to protect the people we love the most—our children.” He remembers what it felt like to hold his kids for the first time. “I just felt this overwhelming love. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”

And when it comes to the day-to-day of parenting?

“There’s this idea that being a dad is just chaos and exhaustion. But I wouldn’t trade any of it. Not the hard times, not the late nights—none of it. Fatherhood is worth it.”

This Father’s Day, we celebrate the dads who raise their kids with courage and conviction, who speak up for the unborn, and who remind us every day that fatherhood isn’t something to avoid—it’s a gift to embrace.