CLEVELAND, Tenn. – All federal funding for the One Life, One Choice abstinence program has been cut, and program officials are scrambling for money.
“This program is in danger,” director Patrick Long said. “If we don’t raise the money this year, then this program will look very, very different next year, if it’s here at all.”
The program has helped reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Bradley County by 12 percent since it started in 1997, Mr. Long said.
Mr. Long and other staff members are joining with students and schools to host a concert fundraiser at 7 p.m. Friday at Lake Forest Middle School. Show choirs from Lake Forest and Cleveland High School have confirmed that they will perform, officials said.
“We’re reaching out to the community for help,” said Reese Goodwin, director of youth outreach for One Life, One Choice.