For more than two decades, Debbie Stokes has been one of the most trusted voices within Vitae Foundation—a steady presence shaped by humility, wisdom and a deep commitment to listening first. A matriarch of the Vitae Family, Debbie has served the organization in many capacities over the last 27 years; and she has decided to retire this year.
Debbie came to Vitae with the heart of an educator. With a background in child development and years of teaching experience, she was naturally drawn to Vitae’s research-driven mission. Early on, she recognized that if we truly wanted to reach women and men in unexpected pregnancies, we had to understand their lived realities— not simply what we hoped they were. That belief became one of the defining marks of her leadership.
We’ve learned so much from Debbie over the years, but these are the most impactful things Debbie taught us:
If you put in the hard work, you get the best result.
One of the first major turning points in Debbie’s career came in 2003 when Vitae made a bold shift: moving from general pro-life awareness ads into call-for-help campaigns directed toward abortion-determined women. Instead of observing this shift from afar, Debbie went into the hardest places herself—walking the streets around pregnancy centers in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and New York City.
These were neighborhoods where one pregnancy center was surrounded by ten abortion facilities. Nonetheless, Debbie met with pregnancy center directors, volunteers and community leaders to hear their stories, understand their challenges and gather the insights needed to determine not only the right ad but where in the large market to air it as well. Her approach—quiet, courageous and deeply personal—helped shape Vitae’s ads, which the organization was known for.
The best way to help is to listen and understand first.
Debbie has played a vital role in the development and refinement of Emotional Research, working closely with one of the nation’s leading consumer psychologists, Dr. Charles Kenny. While others could understand the research, Debbie had the rare gift of translating it—helping staff and even national leaders understand its power and application in simpler, human terms.
She also served as Vitae’s bridge between research and creative execution, ensuring that every commercial, print campaign and digital message reflected what women were actually feeling. This attention to cultural nuance led her to carefully select production teams, guiding advertising efforts that respected the communities they aimed to reach.
In 2007, Debbie helped launch Vitae’s first print campaign in the New York City subway system—inside one of the toughest abortion markets in the country. Later, she played a key role in expanding Vitae’s digital strategy, recognizing early that more women were searching online for abortion information. Her guidance, and keen listening ear, helped tip the online landscape toward life at a moment when the abortion industry was dominating digital platforms.
To draw out the best in others, you listen.
Inside Vitae, Debbie has been a mentor to countless staff members. Her leadership style is not loud or forceful—it’s steady, thoughtful and anchored in genuine care. She asks questions that others overlook. She pays attention to the implications of every idea. And she gives people space to think things through, helping them grow more confident and more capable in their own work.
One staff member recently shared, “When Debbie listens to you, you feel like the most important person in the room.” That sentiment is echoed across the organization.
Her ability to draw out the best in people is part of what has made her such a trusted advisor for decades, leading to her current position as Senior Strategic Advisor—a fitting title for someone who has been serving in this capacity for much of her time with Vitae Foundation.
You build your legacy each day.
Debbie’s impact at Vitae cannot be measured only in campaigns produced or research projects shaped. Her legacy is woven into the culture of the organization itself.
She helped build a team that listens to women, listens to each other and listens for truth—even when it’s complicated. She helped shape a Movement that responds not with slogans, but with compassion, clarity and hope.
And she has done it all with the steady confidence of a leader who never had to raise her voice to make her impact felt.
Vitae Foundation would not be what it is today without the insight, faithfulness and courage of Debbie Stokes. Her legacy is not just written in our history—it continues in every life we reach, every message we refine and every leader shaped by her example.
In retirement, Debbie plans to enjoy time with her husband of 48 years, Rick, her two daughters, and three grandchildren.