Birthright of Tulsa Experiencing Dramatic Growth
TULSA — Driven by a big increase in mothers seeking support, Birthright of Tulsa has found creative ways to provide more diapers and baby clothes.
Birthright brings love and hope to moms and young children by offering friendship and essential resources. Services include pregnancy tests, maternity wear, infant and toddler apparel, parenting classes and referrals. All services are free and confidential.
Nearly 600 new clients came onboard in 2025. To keep up with that influx, Birthright extended its office hours to 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays. As a result, parenting classes were moved to a larger room. A wholesale supplier now delivers cases of discounted diapers. A grant from the Oklahoma Life Foundation also enabled Birthright to hire another employee. Two popular consignment events — Just Between Friends and Rhea Lana — donated unsold infant's and children’s clothing to Birthright.
Executive Director Cathleen Henderson works to spread the word in the community so that social service agencies know about Birthright. She says more women seem to be telling their friends how Birthright helped them.
Statistics illustrate the impact over the past year:
• December 2024: Served 167 clients and gave away 221 items of baby clothes, 235 diaper bundles, and four maternity items.
• December 2025: Served 377 clients and gave away 456 items of baby clothes, 475 diaper bundles, and 28 maternity items.
“The growth is extremely gratifying, but the space constraints make it a little overwhelming,” says Henderson. “We have work the volunteers can do, but no place to put them.”
Beth and Gerald Donovan established Birthright of Tulsa in 1973 as a pro-life response to the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling. It is a chapter of Birthright International. The nondenominational organization has benefitted from strong backing by Catholics in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. Birthright occupies a corner of the 13th floor of the Warren Clinic Tower, on Yale Avenue across from Saint Francis Hospital.