Photo Caption: David Andrusko, editor of the National Right to Life News, will be the featured speaker at the Respect Life Dinner in Peoria on Sunday, Oct. 6.

David Andrusko, editor of the National Right to Life News, will bring his message of optimism and hope back to Peoria on Sunday, Oct. 6, as the keynote speaker for the 32nd annual Respect Life Dinner. It will be held at 6 p.m. at the Cater Inn Banquet Center, 1224 W. Pioneer Parkway, in Peoria.

Andrusko spoke at the Respect Life Dinner in 1994. In addition to editing the National Right to Life News for the last 32 years, he has edited five books and been published in newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, USA Today, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register and First Things.

Andrusko started his pro-life work in the mid-1970s with SOUL — Save Our Unwanted Children — on the campus of the University of Minnesota. He also was a volunteer for Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, which is a state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.

“At the time, my soon-to-be wife, Lisa, was their press secretary. She was brilliant then — even more so now,” he said. Lisa Andrusko currently is the editor of the National Right to Life Yearbook.

The Andruskos have four adult children and one grandson, with another on the way.

He credits his relationship with Jesus as “the mortar that holds my life together.” Andrusko has taught an adult faith formation class for 17 years, serves on his church’s staff-parish committee, and is a member of the church council.

HELPS FAMILY RESOURCES CENTER
The annual Respect Life Dinner is a fundraiser for the Family Resources Center, a free-loan library that is an outreach of the Diocese of Peoria’s Respect Life Board. This fall the center will move from downtown Peoria into its new home at 415 N.E. Monroe St.

Ground was broken for the new 14,000-square-foot facility — made possible with a major gift from “a devout couple” — on July 26, 2012. In addition to the thousands of books, videos and DVDs, it will include devotional and children’s areas, and a basement with meeting space.

“Of the $200,000 still needed after the original gift and sale of our present building, $249,848 remains to be paid,” according to Jan Smith, the founding director of the Family Resources Center.

“We appreciate so much efforts like this dinner to help us in our efforts to pay the debt,” she said. “We are honored to have Dave Andrusko back to speak again, and thanks to all of you for being such an important part in building a Culture of Life.”

Tickets for the Respect Life Dinner are $27 per person before Oct. 1 and $29 after that date. They must be purchased in advance.

Checks made payable to Respect Life Dinner Committee and the names of those who will be attending may be sent to Family Resources Center, 321 Main St., Peoria, IL 61602.

Contributions to help defray the cost of the dinner and support the work of the center are also welcome. Donations of $50 or more will be recognized in the printed program.

For more information, call (309) 637-1713.