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The women are required to bring certain items from home, like bedsheets, towels, laundry detergent, and clothes hangers. Cell phones or pagers, however, aren't allowed.

Watson says she hears from people who are surprised that Florence Crittenton Services still exists. "They think, "all the girls (these days) are keeping their babies. It's nobody's secret that they're pregnant -- why in the world is there a need for this program?'"

Just ask La'Nae Grimes, who at Florence Crittenton first learned how to open and maintain a bank account, and who showed such determination that she was awarded a Florence Crittenton scholarship to attend the Carolinas College of Health Sciences. A month ago, she finished her coursework to be a nurse's aide. Her grandmother watches her daughter while she's at school.

"I loved it (at Florence Crittenton)," says Grimes. "The counselors were just wonderful. I miss it so much, I go back everyday."

Adds Lisa Field, now a successful sales and sponsorship consultant for the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association and a member of Florence Crittenton Services' Board of Advisors: "They helped me grow up very quickly. . .What they gave me as a 15-year-old has lasted me the rest of my life."

Upcoming Fundraising GalaFlorence Crittenton Services recently embarked on a $2 million capital campaign designed to further strengthen its service delivery and allow for building maintenance. This Friday (March 21) is the Florence Crittenton Services Centennial Gala. A $100 ticket gains admission to a pre-dinner reception and silent auction, a seated dinner, and the awards presentation. For tickets, or to volunteer at the Home, call 704-372-4663.