SSM Health is investing in the health and well-being of families in Fond du Lac County through a $15,000 Community Health gift supporting the Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center – a faith-based initiative providing education, resources and compassionate support to parents and families navigating challenging circumstances.
The Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center, a nonprofit pregnancy help center located in Fond du Lac, is dedicated to empowering individuals to make life-affirming choices and helping families thrive through mentoring, education and basic needs support.
Through this Community Health investment, SSM Health is helping expand services that address key social drivers of health, including access to education, essential supplies and emotional support. The Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center delivers a range of offerings – from one-on-one mentoring and group classes to material assistance through its Baby Boutique, providing diapers, formula, hygiene products and other necessities.
In 2025 alone, the Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center served 73 individual clients, supporting 92 children and celebrating 17 births, demonstrating the program’s direct impact on families in the community.
“Partnerships like the one with SSM Health are critical to sustaining and growing our work,” according to Paige Kelley, Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center executive director. “This support allows us to walk alongside families during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives – offering education, encouragement and the tangible resources they need to build a healthy future.”
The program aligns closely with community health priorities by addressing both immediate needs and long-term outcomes. The Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center focuses on parental education, early childhood development and connection to community resources, while also helping identify and respond to challenges, such as food insecurity, mental health concerns and unstable living conditions.
SSM Health leaders emphasized that this investment reflects a broader commitment to improving health beyond hospital walls.
“Supporting organizations like the Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center is an important part of our mission at SSM Health,” Laura Nakielski, SSM Health Community Health manager. “By investing in programs that provide education, essential supplies and strong support systems, we are helping create healthier environments for parents and children across our region.”
The Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center is currently working to expand its impact through a strategic plan that includes increasing the number of families served, expanding service hours and strengthening community partnerships across Fond du Lac County.
With SSM Health’s support, the organization is better positioned to increase these efforts – ensuring more local families have access to the tools, knowledge and support they need to achieve stability and well-being.
Bryan Kress and Jeri Loewe, SSM Health leaders, present a $15,000 community health gift to Paige Kelley (center), Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center executive director.
Date posted: June 11, 2026