Our Mission
Respecting and affirming life from the moment of conception, MiraVia is a safe haven and source of hope for pregnant mothers and their children. Invoking a Christ-centered approach inspired by the examples of Mary and Joseph, MiraVia helps young families move toward a new life of hopeful, independent, and healthy living and educates the broader community on the importance of fostering a culture of life.
Our Credentials
MiraVia, Inc. is a Catholic, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation operating in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was incorporated as Room At The Inn, Inc. by the Secretary of State in March 1994 and licensed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The organization was rebranded as MiraVia in 2013.
Since the first pregnant mother’s admission in December 1994, the residential program has served 590 mothers and children. The nonresidential outreach programs, established in July 2004, have served more than 10,755 mothers and children.
MiraVia is a ministry of the Catholic Church and is listed in the P.J. Kenedy and Sons Official Catholic Directory. Pregnant women are served regardless of their economic, social, religious, racial or ethnic background. In 2017, MiraVia received the status of national accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA).
Our History
1994
1994
1994
MiraVia, then known as Room At The Inn, opened its modest home on Weona Avenue in Charlotte to provide no-fee residential services to pregnant women and their children. Photographed is the late Bishop Emeritus William Curlin, third Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, and Fr. Conrad Kimbrough, who were both strong advocates of our organization.
2000
1994
1994
We started to provide professional, on-site counseling to residential clients.
2003
1994
2003
We constructed a modular office building adjacent to the home and moved office space from the home to the new building. This expansion increased the maximum number of babies and toddlers it could serve.
2004
2004
2003
We added new service programs for pregnant women who may not need residential help, but still need support, counseling and material assistance. These programs were: Pre-natal Counseling Program, which provided professional counseling and material support to any pregnant mother in need. Extended after-care and Outreach Program, which offered professional counseling and material support to mothers after they left our residential program or completed the Pre-natal Counseling Program, in order to help them to live independently.
2005
2004
2005
After providing a home for more than 400 mothers and children at our residence, the Board of Directors conducted an extensive long-range planning process designed to set the course for our organization's future. This would eventually lead to the creation of the Outreach Assistance Program at the Weona Avenue residence in Charlotte and the inspiration for the Residential Facility at Belmont Abbey College.
2006
2004
2005
The residential program transitioned from pre-natal housing at the Weona Avenue home to post-natal housing in nearby apartments. This approach provided housing to women and their children for up to 24 months after the birth of the baby. The program also included 24-hour staffing by our experienced supervisors, weekly professional counseling and all the enrichment programs we offered at the original facility.
The house on Weona Avenue was converted into our Outreach Center to accommodate the growing number of pregnant women who were seeking help through our counselors, classes, and material assistance.
2011
2011
2011
On June 20, 2011, after years of planning, prayer, and hard work, construction began on our college-based residential facility at Belmont Abbey College. Hundreds of supporters from around the country gathered as Bishop Peter Jugis and other pro-life leaders hoisted the first shovels at the ground breaking ceremony.
2012
2011
2011
On July 16, 2012, the end of construction of the Residential Facility at Belmont Abbey College was celebrated with a joyous ribbon cutting ceremony.
2013
2011
2013
On March 31, 2013, our Residential Facility received its maternity home license from the state of North Carolina. On August 12, our first mother living at the facility delivered a healthy baby. On October 24, our organization changed its name from Room At The Inn to MiraVia, which means the "Miraculous Way."
2016
TODAY
2013
On June 11, 2016, our Executive Director Debbie Capen and former Executive Director Jeannie Wray joined Fr. Benjamin Roberts of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Monroe, NC) on a pilgrimage to Mexico City and consecrated MiraVia to the loving protection and care of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
2022
TODAY
TODAY
In September 2022, MiraVia moved its Outreach Center to a new and bigger location in Charlotte. With the well-needed extra space to store our donations, this new location can now serve even more pregnant women in our community who come to us in need of material, emotional and spiritual support.
TODAY
TODAY
TODAY
After 28 years and helping more than 11,345 women and children through our residential and outreach assistance programs, MiraVia continues to offer its unique blend of integrated programs to meet the needs of pregnant women and their children.
What does MiraVia mean?
When our Residential Facility opened in 2013, it seemed the perfect time to create a unique identity to set us apart; one that is both forward thinking and mindful of our history. Up until that point we were known as Room At The Inn.
There are approximately 30 organizations with names similar to Room At The Inn or Room In The Inn nationwide. It’s obviously a great name! However, this also meant we could never “own” the name and that can be quite confusing when someone is trying to find us.
With the decision was made to change our organization's name from Room At The Inn to MiraVia, we providentially met the CEO of Brandsymbol, whose company has helped major entities such as Microsoft, Cadillac, Nabisco and MANY more to develop house-hold names we all know.
In the Latin language, MiraVia means “Miraculous Way.” The blue and gold image in our logo features a star of Bethlehem in homage to the original Room At The Inn, as well as the look of a compass to symbolize the guiding help provided through its residential and outreach programs. Even more, the logo includes Marian blue, royal gold and the eight pointed star, all subtle references to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Finally, the compass-like image reminds us to follow Jesus, who is "the Way, the Truth and the Life."
