Media Release 09.18.06

Four local women honored with awards
Awards presented by Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois at annual gala

CHAMPAIGN—Four local women were presented with awards last night by Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois (PPECI).  Ruth Youngerman, Rev. Janet Eggleston, Annie Fehrenbacher and Eleanor Unsworth were all honored with awards established during PPECI’s 65th Anniversary celebration last year.

Ruth Youngerman, a longtime supporter, early board member and volunteer at Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois, received the organization’s Respecting the Past award.  Ms. Youngerman was recognized for her dedication to Planned Parenthood and her impact on the community.  Robin Beach, chief operating officer of PPECI, presented the award.

Rev. Janet Eggleston was the recipient of this year’s Protecting the Present award, presented by Joy Thornton-Walter, chair of PPECI’s board of trustees.  Rev. Eggleston was recognized for her efforts to create better relationships between members of the clergy and Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois.  Rev. Eggleston is the pastor of the Hoopeston and Wellington United Methodist churches.

Lawrence Lewis, Coordinator of Education Programs, presented the Shaping the Future award to two young women.  Annie Fehrenbacher, now a student at Johns Hopkins University, joined the Teen Awareness Group in 2004 and quickly became an outspoken advocate for sexuality education.  Ms. Fehrenbacher’s parents accepted the award on her behalf.  Eleanor Unsworth, a member of the Teen Awareness Group since 2005, has passionately supported contraceptive access and violence prevention.  The two young women also co-founded the Sexual Health Awareness Group (SHAG) at University High School as a supplement to the health education curriculum. 

More than 100 people attended Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois’s Annual Gala, held at the Levis Faculty Center at the University of Illinois.  A keynote address about religion and sexuality was given by Rev. Dr. Ignacio Castuera, the chaplain of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.   

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Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois provides services for more than 13,000 clients every year in seven locations in the area.  It is the number one provider of reproductive healthcare in downstate Illinois.