Teen Band 'Endurance' Supports Pregnancy Center

The Youth Group at Grace Community Church held a concert Sunday to raise money and awareness for Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center, the Hawthorne-based center that gives emotional, spiritual and material support to pregnant women.

The band Endurance -- Kyle Cooke, on vocals and guitar; Emily Kern, on drums and vocals; Kory Hilpman on keyboards and George Creegan on lead guitar -- headlined the night with a set of mostly original peppy pop songs with a Christian twist.

The band formed out of the church's youth group, with Cooke (Rev. Eliiot Cooke's son) and Kern, who taught herself drums. Hilpman joined a little later, with Creegan the newest (and at 12, the youngest) member of the group. With the exception of Creegan, who is still in middle school, the members of the band attend Indian Hills High School.

Cooke and Kern are the main songwriters in the group and they hope to record an album soon, they said. Meanwhile, rough MP3s are available on their myspace page.  

The evening raised close to $500 for Lighthouse, an organization Cooke said he chose because he has seen the great work they do in the community.

With offices in Hawthorne and Hackensack, the center provides free and confidential pregnancy and STD screenings and support to women in our community who are pregnant under less than ideal circumstances. 

For instance, Abby was a third-year college student whose husband was about to be deployed to Iraq when she found Lighthouse. At the time, she was afraid that a pregnancy would derail her education and she would lose her scholarship. She considered an abortion but instead found the support she needed.

"It was wonderful to come here and get such love, suport and guidance," Abby shared in a video. Her husband was able to attend her first ultrasound before leaving for Iraq and came home just days before the baby was born.

"Once someone comes to us, we offer support up to a year beyond the birth," Lighthouse Executive Director Debbie Provincher explained. "Material support is provided to those who come for parenting, spiritual or any support. It's an exchange program. We don't just give diapers; we help clients to become healthier parents."

"It is very heart warming that the teens are taking on the responsibility to help their peers," Lighthouse Executive Director Debbie Provincer told Patch.  

Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center welcomes donations of diapers, wipes, formula, and gently-used baby clothes at the center located at 503 Lafayette Ave. in Hawthorne and 809 Main St., Hackensack.

For more information about donations or volunter opportunities, visit lighthouseprc.org or Friendsoflighthouseprc.org. For assistance or counseling, call 973-238-9045 or email help@lighthouseprc.org.