John Hinshaw is a Lifelong Advocate for the Unborn and their Mothers. John has a close connection and relationship with Good Counsel Homes having served as Vice President of Operations from 2015-2019, contributing his time and talents to the Mission of Good Counsel.

John grew up in East Meadow with his parents, Harold and Mildred and his four siblings, Diane, Richard, Arlene and Lynn. John and his wife Brenda have been married for 37 years and raised their six children, John Paul, Mary-Kate, Kelly, Theresa, Bernadette and James in Levittown, where they have lived for 35 years. Brenda and John are blessed to be “Nana & Pa” to their three precious grandchildren, Monca, Andrew, Jr and Charlotte.

John’s dedication and participation in the Pro-Life Movement began as a college student in 1974 as a sidewalk counselor outside abortion mills in Nassau County. As Education Committee Chairperson for Long Island Youth for Life and Justice between 1976-1982, he gave many presentations at local High Schools and Colleges. His presentations continued as a member of the Speakers Bureau for the Long Island Coalition for Life, Inc. He also served as the Coalition’s Secretary and Nassau County Vice Chairperson. During the late 1980’s he was a Counselor for EMC Crisis Pregnancy Center founded by another Defender of Life, the late Christopher T. Slattery. Additionally, John was the Pro-Life Chairperson of the N.Y. Chapter of the Catholic League for Religious & Civil Rights from 1987-1992. In 1984-1985 he was a member of the founding committee for Mother & Unborn Baby Care, now known as the Life Center of Long Island.

John’s Pro-Life activism extended into the political arena. He traveled as a volunteer to New Hampshire to collect signatures for Long Island Pro-Lifer Ellen McCormack’s 1976 campaign for President. He has made numerous trips to Albany, N.Y. and Washington, D.C. to lobby for pro-life legislation and was involved in many state and local campaigns on behalf of pro-life candidates. John attended the first March For Life in Washington, D.C. and for many Januarys after John and his family participated in the March. During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s John participated in Operation Rescue, one of the largest civil disobedience movements in America. Thousands put themselves peacefully and prayerfully between the unborn, their mothers and the abortion providers.

John’s professional life reflects his commitment and dedication to the marginalized members of our society, those who often fall between the cracks. For more than 40 years John has worked with the mentally ill in a variety of positions. These positions included a pilot program dealing with mental illness among the homeless in N.Y.C., as an Intensive Case Manager for a nonprofit to assist and advocate for his clients in all parts of their lives including housing, benefits, medical and psychiatric treatments and as a Residential Counselor at Community Residences in Nassau County, where he worked up until this past August.

John’s commitment to the “marginalized” continues as he and his 8 fellow imprisoned Rescuers await sentencing in May for their participation in a Rescue at the Washington Surgi-Center in October 2020. John and the others are sharing God’s word through prayer, bible studies and why they are there with their fellow inmates.

John is humbled and honored to receive this award. He accepts this award on behalf of all mothers and their children. He asks that we pray and continue the work of saving lives.