About Circle of Hope
How Our Story Began
Circle of Hope was founded by Liesa and Donato Borrillo, Betty Johnston, and their dear friend, the late Patrick “Lance” O’Carroll.
Each had spent years involved in pro-life causes before their paths came together. Through the people they met and the stories they heard, one thing became unmistakably clear:
What they saw being offered—a pregnancy test, a confirmation ultrasound, information about pregnancy options, and a few baby items—wasn’t nearly enough. Choosing life had to be truly possible.
They cared deeply about helping people facing difficult and intensely personal pregnancy decisions. But the more they listened, the more they understood how real-life circumstances could leave someone feeling pressured toward abortion—even when it wasn’t the choice they wanted to make.
Financial strain. Housing instability. School and work demands. Childcare. Relationship challenges. Mental health concerns. Limited access to affordable, quality healthcare. Pressure from a partner or family. Lack of personal or community support. The needs of children already at home. Fear of not being able to provide the life they want for their child.
And from those conversations came a fundamental belief:
No one should feel abortion is their only realistic option because they lack the resources and support to welcome a child.
That understanding led to one defining question:
What would it take to remove those barriers and make continuing a pregnancy truly possible?
The answer would become Circle of Hope.
What We Couldn’t Ignore
Before deciding what Circle of Hope should become, the founders went directly to those they wanted to serve. They listened to women and families facing unexpected pregnancies and asked a simple but important question: What might keep you from turning to a pregnancy care center for help?
What they learned would shape Circle of Hope from the ground up.
Some feared being pressured, preached at, made to feel guilty for considering abortion, or manipulated toward a particular outcome. Others questioned staff qualifications, the accuracy and completeness of the information they would receive, whether all pregnancy options would be fully presented, possible delays in medical care intended to influence their choice, or a hidden agenda behind the help being offered.
They also heard another significant concern: that once someone decided to continue their pregnancy, the attention and help they received would quickly fade—even though the challenges facing them and their family remained.
Those conversations became part of the blueprint for Circle of Hope. Honesty and transparency, quality medical care, room to ask difficult questions and make their own decisions, and meaningful help beyond the initial visit became part of the model from the beginning.
What the Research Shows
The concerns the founders encountered firsthand were not unique to the people they met. Published studies have documented many of the same concerns—along with the real-life circumstances that often influence pregnancy decisions.
72%
of U.S. abortion patients had incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level.
67%
had to raise money to pay for the abortion
Understanding What Was Really Needed
As the founders listened more closely, they began to understand the weight so many people were carrying:
Fear. Financial pressure. Housing concerns. Relationship struggles. School. Work. Health worries. The feeling that everything was falling apart at once.
For many women, men, teens, and families, the problem was not a lack of love or concern for the baby.
They simply could not see a realistic path forward. The obstacles in front of them felt overwhelming, and the support, resources, and practical help that could make continuing the pregnancy feel possible were often out of reach.
When the Help Offered Was Not Enough
The founders also began to understand why many people did not turn to crisis pregnancy centers for help.
A pregnancy test, confirmation ultrasound, conversation, or baby supplies could all be valuable. But for someone facing homelessness, financial hardship, an unsafe relationship, untreated mental health needs, lack of medical care, pressure from a partner or family member, or fear of losing an education or career, those services alone could not address the full reality of what they were going through.
What people needed was meaningful, ongoing support that looked at the whole picture—not just the pregnancy, but the person, the family, and the real-life challenges in front of them.
What We Couldn’t Ignore
Before deciding what Circle of Hope should become, the founders went directly to those they wanted to serve. They listened to women and families facing unexpected pregnancies and asked a simple but important question: What might keep you from turning to a pregnancy care center for help?
What they learned would shape Circle of Hope from the ground up.
Some feared being pressured, preached at, made to feel guilty for considering abortion, or manipulated toward a particular outcome. Others questioned staff qualifications, the accuracy and completeness of the information they would receive, whether all pregnancy options would be fully presented, possible delays in medical care intended to influence their choice, or a hidden agenda behind the help being offered.
They also heard another significant concern: that once someone decided to continue their pregnancy, the attention and help they received would quickly fade—even though the challenges facing them and their family remained.
Those conversations became part of the blueprint for Circle of Hope. Honesty and transparency, quality medical care, room to ask difficult questions and make their own decisions, and meaningful help beyond the initial visit became part of the model from the beginning.
Rethinking the Traditional Model
The founders knew support had to go far beyond a pregnancy test, options counseling, a confirmation ultrasound, and baby supplies. It meant providing individualized care, credible medical information, a broad range of services, and practical support that addressed the whole person—not just the pregnancy—and could continue for as long as it was needed.
It also meant creating a place where people could ask difficult questions, speak honestly about what they were considering, and trust that they would be treated with compassion, dignity, and respect.
So they built an entirely different approach—by design.
A Circle of Support
Today, that vision is reflected in every part of Circle of Hope. From the moment someone walks through the doors, they are seen as a person—not a decision to influence. They receive professional medical care, individualized guidance, and meaningful practical support, along with the time and information needed to understand what they are facing, explore what may be possible, and find a way forward.
That support extends far beyond what any one organization could provide alone. Rather than duplicating services already available in the community, the team has built a true circle of support—bringing together trusted healthcare providers, churches, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to help meet the many different needs a person or family may face.
This collaborative approach also reflects a deep commitment to wise stewardship of every resource entrusted to the organization—keeping overhead lean, stretching donor dollars further, and directing resources where they can make the greatest difference.
Everything comes back to one unwavering commitment:
To help make choosing life truly possible.
As Circle of Hope continues to grow, strengthen its partnerships, and reach more people, that commitment remains unchanged: to meet real needs, remove barriers, and provide meaningful support with uncompromising excellence, genuine compassion, and unwavering integrity.
Why “Circle of Hope”
The name Circle of Hope reflects another principle at the heart of the model:
No single organization can provide everything a person or family may need—and it shouldn’t have to.
Circle of Hope works alongside healthcare providers, churches, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups, each bringing something valuable to the lives of those we serve.
Rather than duplicating excellent programs that already exist, this approach allows Circle of Hope to bring the right people together, keep overhead lean, stretch donor dollars further, and direct funding where it can make the greatest difference.
That is the circle: trusted professionals, specialized expertise, and high-quality resources across many areas—all working together to surround a person or family with what they need most.
And at the center is hope—the belief that circumstances can change, barriers can be overcome, and possibilities can emerge where none seemed to exist before.
A Different Approach, by Design
Gainesville already had several pregnancy care centers within a relatively small area, all providing essentially the same core services. The community did not need another version of what was already available.
The founders looked closely at how local organizations were using their resources. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent each year, yet many of the needs they were hearing about remained unmet. There had to be a better way—one that made thoughtful use of every dollar while responding to more of what people were actually facing.
That meant bringing together professional medical care, accurate, evidence-based information, individualized guidance, and practical assistance—while giving people space to speak openly about what they were considering. From the beginning, four priorities defined Circle of Hope:
Save lives. Care for the whole person. Work collaboratively. Make Every Dollar Entrusted to Us Go Further.
True choice means
abortion is never the only way forward.
What That Looks Like Today
Today, that vision is lived out differently for every person who walks through our doors.
For some, that may be an ultrasound and answers about their pregnancy. For others, it may involve finding a doctor, securing transportation, obtaining housing, staying in school, preparing for a baby, finding counseling, navigating an unsafe relationship, or working through several challenges at once.
Circle of Hope may be part of someone’s life for a single appointment—or remain a source of help for months.
There is no single way to help because no two people come to us facing exactly the same circumstances.
But everything comes back to the belief that started it all:
Choosing life has to be truly possible.
That is why Circle of Hope exists.
Because Asking Someone to Choose Life Means Being Willing to Show Up for What Comes Next.
The Values That Guide Us
At Circle of Hope, we believe no one should feel pushed toward a life-changing decision because they are afraid, overwhelmed, pressured, or without the help they need.
We recognize that complex problems require more than simple solutions. They call for practical, meaningful support that addresses the realities a person may be facing.
We value wise stewardship and the strength of community—using resources thoughtfully, building meaningful partnerships, and working together to surround families with a wider circle of care, connection, and opportunity.
Most of all, we believe hope becomes real when compassion is matched with meaningful action.
That is why Circle of Hope exists.
IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
Lance O’Carroll’s Lasting Legacy
Co-Founder of Circle of Hope
Patrick “Lance” O’Carroll held a special place in the story of Circle of Hope from the very beginning. A dear friend and co-founder, his faith, compassion, and quiet determination helped bring the vision for this ministry to life.
Lance was a devout Catholic with a deep love for God and an unwavering commitment to serving others. For decades, he was a steadfast pro-life advocate, committed to helping and encouraging parents to choose life. He was also a devoted supporter of 40 Days for Life, generously giving his time, energy, and support to a mission that meant so much to him.
If someone needed help, Lance was there. He gave without seeking recognition, stepped in wherever he was needed, and had a remarkable willingness to do whatever he could to make life a little better for someone else.
Those who knew and loved Lance feel his absence deeply and wish he were here to see how much Circle of Hope has grown and how many lives are being touched today. His kindness, courage, faith, and extraordinary love for others remain woven into the very foundation of the ministry he helped build.
Lance may no longer be here to see what grew from that early vision, but the good he helped set in motion continues every single day.
