Planned Parenthood Honors Outstanding Affiliates and Volunteers with Annual Excellence Awards

WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) honored exceptional affiliates, staff members, and volunteers for their important contributions to health care, family planning and education services, and reproductive rights at the annual Affiliate Excellence and Volunteer Awards luncheon held on March 28, 2008.  The ceremony, held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Virginia, featured PPFA President Cecile Richards.

“The members of the Planned Parenthood family are the heart and soul of the reproductive health care movement,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “Their commitment to providing access to affordable reproductive health care and family planning services demonstrates their sheer dedication to the women, teens and families in their communities across the nation.” Richards gave the keynote address at the award ceremony.

The awards presented during the ceremony included the following:

• Albert Soto Award for Excellence in Diversity went to Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Board Development went to Planned Parenthood of Georgia

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Clinical and Social Research went to Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Community Education went to Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Clinical Service Expansion and Outreach went to Planned Parenthood of Central Texas

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Marketing and Advertising went to Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Media and Public Relations went to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Public Affairs went to Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa

• Affiliate Excellence Award in Special Efforts Serving Teens went to Planned Parenthood of Western New York

• Ruth Mott Rawlings Award for International Excellence went to Planned Parenthood of New York City

• Shannon Lowney/Lee Ann Nichols Award for Innovative Medical Services went to Planned Parenthood of Greater Miami, Palm Beach and Treasure Coast

• Winston E. Forrest Jr. Award for Excellence in Private Fundraising went to Planned Parenthood of Indiana

• PPFA Volunteer of the Year Award went to Karen Campbell from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin

• PPFA Young Volunteer of the Year Award went to Harrison Pride of Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette

• APPLE Tree Award went to Barry Raff, CEO, and Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Hawaii

• Pamela G. Veerhusen Award went to Jordan Fitzgerald, assistant director, Field Operations, PPFA Public Policy Division

• Fund for Future Grants were awarded to Planned Parenthood Arizona, Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey, Planned Parenthood of Central Texas, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, Planned Parenthood of Montana (in collaboration with the Planned Parenthood affiliates of Alaska, Idaho, the Rocky Mountains, and Utah), Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs, and Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio.

• PPFA Foundation Grants were awarded to Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, Planned Parenthood of Georgia, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (in collaboration with 15 other Planned Parenthood affiliates), Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, Planned Parenthood of Montana, Planned Parenthood of New York City (in collaboration with Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic and Planned Parenthood of Nassau County), Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.

• Employee Contribution Campaign Grants were awarded to Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge, Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County, Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, and Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley.