WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 27, 2025) – At this year’s National Celebrate Life Weekend GALA, pro-life leaders will come together to honor four champions whose work has significantly influenced the pro-life movement. Among the honorees is U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who will receive the Defender of Life award from Students for Life of America (SFLA) for his dedication to protecting unborn lives and shaping pro-life policy on Capitol Hill.
The Celebrate Life GALA, hosted by SFLA President Kristan Hawkins, is co-sponsored by pro-life organizations including And Then There Were None and Pro-Love Ministries, Vitae Foundation, and Sidewalk Advocates for Life. The event commemorates the fall of Roe v. Wade and recognizes individuals whose efforts have helped shift public perception and funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.
“The fall of Roe was a miracle with so many saints involved,” said Hawkins. “In honoring these four leaders, we highlight the many faces behind the fight to end abortion in America.”
Honoree: Speaker Mike Johnson
As the 56th Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (R-LA) is a standout pro-life advocate. In budget negotiations and legislative leadership, he has prioritized policies defending unborn children. Johnson’s dedication to life stems from personal experience—his own life story began before Roe was decided, at a time when his parents were still in high school.
“My parents were seventh-grade sweethearts. In their junior year, I was conceived—almost exactly a year before Roe v. Wade,” Johnson has said in interviews. “They chose life, and so do I.”
His lived commitment to pro-life values, both personally and politically, exemplifies the kind of leadership the award is designed to recognize.
Honoree: David Daleiden, Citizen Journalist
David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, gained national attention in 2015 when his undercover videos revealed the inner workings of fetal tissue procurement at Planned Parenthood. These videos, which included shocking footage of abortion providers casually discussing the sale of fetal body parts, triggered public outrage and congressional investigations.
Even former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards publicly apologized for the “tone and statements” captured in the videos, though the organization denied any wrongdoing. Daleiden’s work permanently damaged Planned Parenthood’s reputation and exposed questionable practices, playing a critical role in the national conversation on abortion ethics.
Honoree: Mayra Rodriguez, Planned Parenthood Whistleblower
Once named Planned Parenthood’s “Woman of the Year,” Mayra Rodriguez turned whistleblower after witnessing alleged unethical and dangerous practices within the organization. In her 2019 wrongful termination lawsuit, Rodriguez claimed that Planned Parenthood retaliated against her for reporting medical negligence, discrimination, and illegal practices.
She testified that the organization exploited her undocumented status and attempted to silence her by planting narcotics in her office. A pro-choice jury ruled unanimously in her favor after just three hours of deliberation. Rodriguez’s courage continues to inspire and inform the public about what happens behind the scenes at the nation’s largest abortion provider.
Honoree: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Congressman Chris Smith has spent decades championing pro-life legislation as one of the most respected voices for life on Capitol Hill. Co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, Smith has consistently authored bills aimed at restricting abortion funding, protecting conscience rights, and supporting pregnancy centers.
Among his legislative work are the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act, and the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025. Smith has earned a reputation not just for his words, but for legislative action grounded in strong moral conviction.
“Faith without works is dead,” Hawkins said. “Rep. Smith lives out his convictions through the laws he crafts.”
A Weekend of Action and Reflection
The Celebrate Life GALA is just one part of the weekend’s events. On Saturday, the National Celebrate Life Rally will take place on the Capitol Lawn and feature the largest diaper drive in American history. Nearly 400,000 diapers will be displayed to symbolize the number of lives lost each year to abortion at Planned Parenthood. Following the event, the diapers will be donated to families in need as a practical act of support for life.
“We’re not just here to protest abortion,” said Hawkins. “We’re here to offer real help, real hope, and real resources to women and families.”
As the country reflects on the years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the pro-life movement is recognizing those who have shaped history—and continuing to fight for a future where every life is valued.
Students for Life of America encourages supporters and the public to participate in this weekend’s activities and honor the individuals working to build a culture of life across the nation.
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