Greater Columbus Right to Life will host its annual banquet on Monday, June 9, at Villa Milano, 1630 Schrock Road, Columbus, and while every year in service to the Gospel of Life is a joy, 2025 commemorates the organization’s 50th anniversary.
In that spirit, Greater Columbus Right to Life (GCRTL) welcomes back one of its most dynamic former leaders, Jason Shanks, as the featured speaker.
Many will recognize his name for the bold vision he brought to life in central Ohio. It was his faith-fueled commitment to local organizational unity and community action that ignited partnerships across churches, schools and local organizations—and set the stage for transformational growth.
As the former president of Greater Columbus Right to Life, Shanks launched the first 40 Days for Life campaign, unveiled a bold “2020 Vision” plan to end abortion in Columbus and expanded the organization’s reach by adding “Greater” to its name. GCRTL has grown five-fold since then and the local abortion rate has fallen by nearly 60%, sparing more than 30,000 innocent lives from abortion.
Shanks’ impact reaches far beyond central Ohio. He co-founded Catholic Youth Summer Camp, where he led young people into a deeper relationship with Christ amid the beauty of creation. He served the Diocese of Toledo as Secretariat Leader for Evangelization and Parish Life, sparking parish renewal across the region. As CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, he merged five county agencies into a regional service network, earning Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” distinction in 2014.
In that same entrepreneurial spirit, he became president of the Our Sunday Visitor Institute, where he built a platform for Catholic innovators to share and fund their ideas for strengthening the Church. His ministry there reverberated nationwide, catalyzing new apostolic initiatives and equipping lay leaders for mission.
Shanks has also dedicated himself at the national level as a consultant on the Committee for Religious Liberty to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Eucharistic Revival since its inception in 2021 and as founding treasurer (and now president) of the National Eucharistic Congress. His counsel has helped steer these major initiatives in renewing devotion to the Eucharist.
He now lives in northern Indiana with his wife, Melissa, and their five children.
Tickets to the dinner are complimentary, with an invitation to support GCRTL’s work after the program. Advance registration is required at gcrtl.org/banquet or by calling 614-445-8508. Sponsorship opportunities and VIP reception tickets are available.