Nonprofit threatened by lack of money

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- A well-known local charity that rescues several hundred

abandoned babies a year is in danger of losing its office space because

of a lack of funding, group members say.

Donations have “fallen greatly since Sept. 11,” said Project Cuddle

founder Debbe Magnusen.

“It looks like people are reassessing the situation,” she said. “Funds

are just not coming in like before.”

The nonprofit operates out of a 1,500-square-foot office in Costa

Mesa. Total office expenses, including rent, postage and care packages

for the mothers and babies, add up to $7,000 a month, Magnusen said.

“At this rate, I don’t know how long we can go on,” she said. “Maybe

three months or less.”

Project Cuddle started in Magnusen’s living room about 12 years ago.

At that time, Magnusen’s task was to put plush toys in police cars to

comfort children who, because of unfortunate circumstances, are

transported by police officers.

That was how the group got its name. But in time, Magnusen, a parent

of five adopted children, drifted toward another issue close to her heart

-- abandoned children.

In 1996, she started a nationwide hotline operated exclusively by

volunteers.

“Our first call was from a mom who called and said she was expecting

her baby in a month,” Magnusen said. “And she said she hated it because

she was raped and that she was going to dump the baby.”

Magnusen arranged for a volunteer to help the mom deliver the baby

girl and then put the baby up for adoption.

“She is very happy now with a wonderful Orange County family,” she

said.

If the group loses its office, Magnusen says she will fight to the

end. She will move back to her home if that is what it takes.

“It’s going to be a huge challenge,” she said.

Her office manger, Angel Waters, says the office they moved into in

May provided them with several advantages.

“The girls and moms can come here, and it’s a quiet place where we can

keep everything confidential,” she said. “It’s a place volunteers can

come in and help us with filing and other work.”

The project has also expanded considerably. What started with a

handful of moms and volunteers has now grown: This year, about 350

pregnant women approached the group. Close to 1,800 volunteers all over

the country and in Canada help operate the hotline.

“We definitely need some help at this time,” Magnusen said. “In the

form of money or space where we can operate.”

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

FYI

For more information on Project Cuddle or to find out how you can

help, call (714) 433-6800.