Elizabeth House, a Pasadena nonprofit for pregnant mothers and their children, dedicated its residential home to founder and Executive Director Debbie Unruh on Thursday, April 20. Through the presentation of a bronze plaque and a ribbon- cutting ceremony, Unruh was celebrated for her retirement and honored for her 29 years of faithful commitment to the San Gabriel Valley community. Unruh was honored for her service and vision by local leaders, board members, current residential mothers, and staff, including Mayor Victor Gordo and representatives from the offices of state Sen. Anthony Portantino and Rep. Judy Chu. Gordo called Pasadena the “center of the universe” — not because of the Rose Bowl, Caltech or JPL, but because of the people like Unruh of Elizabeth House. Three decades ago, Unruh was in the middle of labor at a hospital when she overheard that a woman next door was facing a crisis. The woman was also in labor, but was homeless, pregnant and alone. Unruh walked over and sat with her, thinking that no one should ever be alone during a time like this. Unruh made it her mission to share this life-changing moment that propelled her on the path of opening a shelter for pregnant mothers in need. Founded in 1994, Elizabeth House takes a trauma-informed approach to break the cycles of homelessness, abuse and suffering. Through shelter and lifelong support, Elizabeth House empowers pregnant and parenting women in need to reclaim their lives and build successful family legacies. With wrap-around services and a robust alumni program, it is also the only residential program in the entire San Gabriel Valley that embraces both pregnant women and their children up to the age of five. For almost three decades, Elizabeth House has served 375 women, 602 children/grandchildren, and seen 325 babies born through its program. “I set out in my life with ambitions to change the world. What I wasn’t prepared for was how the world would change me,” Unruh said. Gifts in honor of Unruh to support the legacy of Elizabeth House can be made through the website: elizabethhouse.net.
First published in the May 4 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
