Strong Families:

10 Years of Standing up for Families, The Highlights

1988-89

1989

Open for business, Sept. 5: One-room office in Harrisburg with a budget of $100,000
The first Pennsylvania Citizen newsletter, published in Sept.
First newspaper quote: Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12
Inaugural press conference: "Fact and Fiction in the Day-Care Debate" Coverage on all three TV network affiliates, major newspaper coverage, Dec 5.

1990

Spring: Benefit of Focus on the Family communication link proven. Passage of anti-obscenity bill after PFI Alert sent over Focus airwaves
Spring: PFI begins its first radio program, called The Public Square on WVCH in Philadelphia. Now called The Common Good, it airs on seven stations across the Commonwealth.
Fall: PFI helps train more than 500 people for effective pro-life work through the Life Activist Seminar.

1991

Fall: Our first Voter's Guide published. Distribution: 50,000.
Fall: Pennsylvania Family Institute is first organization in state to raise concerns about Outcome-Based Education. Helps form Pennsylvania Coalition for Academic Excellence.
December: Help spearhead effort to bring school-choice to Pennsylvania, in concert with REACH Alliance. Bill passes in Senate, defeated in House.

1992 -1995

Nearly 10,000 parents, teachers and youth leaders across Pennsylvania are trained in how to teach teens to "Learn to Discern" by Bob DeMoss and "A Generation at Risk"
Thousands take part in "Community Impact Seminars" developed by Focus on the Family, and promoted by Pennsylvania Family Institute. Churches create Community Impact groups across the state.

1994

The Pennsylvania Family Institute Voter's Guide hits a new level of sophistication and distribution. More than 1,000,000 copies distributed!
Pennsylvania Family Institute helps form Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion after predicting a significant push for casino gambling in our state, to do research and education on the impact of casino gambling.

1995

Pennsylvania Family Institute helps lead a renewed push for parental choice in education. Michael Geer appears on Focus on the Family broadcast with Gov. Tom Ridge, focusing on the school-choice issue.
Release of Pennsylvania Index of Leading Cultural Indicators highlighting a 30-year picture of important social trends such as abortion, divorce and unwed motherhood.
PA Physicians Resource Council is formed to provide medical advice on family policy.

1996

Breaking Up Is Easy to Do, the Institute's groundbreaking report on the impact of no-fault divorce receives national attention. Reported on by major media, the study helped launch a stronger movement for divorce reform here and elsewhere; PFI provides testimony to a Judiciary Committee Task Force in favor of divorce reform.
In response to demand for more information on education issues, PFI launches Pennsylvania Families & Schools newsletter, which has now expanded to 12 pages and reaches parents, educators and school directors across the state.
Expanded, comprehensive Voter's Guide covers all of Pennsylvania�s congressional and state legislative races. More than one million copies are distributed.
Emmy-award winning public service announcement on fatherhood airs on 18 Pennsylvania TV stations.
One-minute Family Update radio commentary debuts on WDAC; later airs on WBYN.

1997

Pennsylvania Family Institute spearheads effort to protect marriage by passage of legislation defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
New Pennsylvania Family Institute Web site: www.pafamily.org
Pennsylvania Parents Guide series of handbooks debuts with How to Evaluate the Sex Education Program in Your Child's School; other titles follow.

1998

Release of Marriage Index measuring Pennsylvanians' attitudes toward marriage and divorce, commissioned by PFI and conducted by nationally recognized polling firm Wirthlin Worldwide.
Publication of Parents Guide to Public School Involvement and Family Guide to Internet Safety.
General election Voter's Guide enjoys wide distribution, including 23,000 requested by 175 public libraries. Voter's Guide Web site debuts at www.pavoter.com. After election, site allows citizens to look up legislators by zip code.

1999

Pennsylvania Family Institute takes leading role in Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion (PAGE) and coordinates defeat of casino gambling expansion.

2000

Tenth anniversary with Dr. James Dobson.
Voter's Guide web site receives more than 250,00 hits.
Publication of Breaking up is hard on you. An in depth look at the impact of divorce.

2001

Saw passage of landmark school choice legislation to grant tax credits for school tuition.
More than 50 high school students attend our 1st annual City on the Hill.
Again leading coalition to combat gambling proposals.

2002

PFI launches its new briefings series of policies papers - short concise policy briefs to help lawmakers, the media and the public understand key issues facing PA
Pennsylvania Families and Schools expands to 24-full color pages.