Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Fran Lebowitz Honor Community Leaders at PPHP's 2009 Empower Luncheon

(Hawthorne, N.Y.) – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand honored Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic’s (PPHP) community leaders at its 2009 Empower Luncheon on Friday, October 23rd at Elmwood Country Club in White Plains.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore and Betsey Metz, former Board chair of Planned Parenthood of Westchester/Rockland received the 2009 Community Leadership Award for their dedication to protecting women’s health, rights, and safety. 

Guests enjoyed the keynote speech from Fran Lebowitz, celebrated humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand presented the Community Leadership Award to District Attorney DiFiore.

The more than 225 supporters in attendance demonstrated PPHP’s strong base of support for women and families and its thriving presence in Westchester County.  
 
Among the local, state, and national elected officials in attendance were State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Assemblyman George Latimer, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, Assemblyman Mike Spano, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, Westchester County Clerk Timothy Idoni, Westchester County Legislator Judy Myers, Westchester County Legislator Kenneth Jenkins, and New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.

Proceeds from the event help PPHP sustain and expand medical, counseling, and education services in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Suffolk Counties. For over 76 years, PPHP has provided affordable, confidential, and compassionate care to women, men, and teens.  PPHP works to protect the right to reproductive freedom, and offers education and training programs to improve parent/child communication, peer-to-peer education, and a variety of other community resources.

Photo credit: Photo 2009 by Leslye Smith

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc (PPHP) is the 16th largest affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and operates 12 medical centers in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties.  In 2008, PPHP provided services to over 36,000 patients in over 70,000 visits.  We conducted over 1,800 education programs reaching more than 30,000 youth and adults, and mobilized approximately 10,000 advocates to protect reproductive health care rights.  PPHP has served the community for 76 years, and is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to make responsible choices regarding their sexuality and sexual health.  Planned Parenthood has done more to reduce the incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy than any other health care provider or advocacy group.  PPHP is headquartered in Hawthorne NY. For more information about PPHP services and programs, visit www.pphp.org.