Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Bardos
Hi Elizabeth , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My parents escaped from Hungary during the revolution in 1956. Just teenagers at the time, they left everything and everyone they knew, got married, and came to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs. As a young married couple, they quickly learned English, and were able to study at the University of Illinois. Soon after their arrival to the states, my mother got pregnant and stopped her formal studies to take care of her growing family. While my father continued his education to obtain his doctorate, my mom stayed home with the children. Along with my father, she lovingly welcomed, nurtured, and raised ten of us!. She taught me and my nine siblings so much, just through the way she lived her life with complete trust in God’s will. It was a remarkable example of bravery, love, resilience, sacrifice, faith, and hard work. My mother was such a beautiful soul! It was evident in everything she did.
As the ninth child of ten, I am acutely aware of the gift God and my parents gave me–life itself! I would not be here if my parents did not view each child as a gift from God, created in the image and likeness of God. After my mother passed away in 2007, I wanted to honor her beautiful spirit with life-affirming volunteer work. In 2008 I started to volunteer at a pregnancy resource center called Birthright of Memphis. The wonderful mission to help pregnant women in their time of need was just part of what got me hooked. I admired the resilience, humor, and bravery of the women who came to Birthright for assistance, and I was so taken by the kindness, compassion, and empathy of the staff and volunteers at Birthright, I just had to be a part of it! I was hired in 2011 as Director of Volunteers, promoted to Assistant Director in 2015, and Director in 2022.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely had some struggles in my life, but the gift of faith that my parents instilled in me has been my rock and foundation for everything. I am so grateful for everything my family has done to support and care for me!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the director of Birthright of Memphis. At Birthright we believe it is the right of every pregnant woman to give birth, and the right of every child to be born. I have the honor to lead a wonderful team of devoted staff and volunteers who value each human life, and love the mother, father, and the preborn and born baby. We offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and related pregnancy counseling, parenting and life-skills classes, mentoring throughout the pregnancy, and maternity and baby clothing and items. We focus on providing emotional support to each person who requests our help, and are known for being a safe, loving, nonjudgmental, and caring place. I am most in awe of the kindness and love that I see being poured into each individual that calls us or enters our doors. I am so grateful to be a part of that each day!
What’s next?
We plan to increase our services, get the word out about our mission, and be more accessible to the pregnant women who rely on us. No big changes, but we value growth and improvement! Birthright is a beautiful cause!
Pricing:
- Free and confidential
Contact Info:
- Website: https://birthrightofmemphis.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birthrightofmemphis
