Dear Friends,
We all have personal stories that led us to support Planned Parenthood and its mission.
In my case, it’s a story that takes me back to high school in rural Indiana. My two best friends got pregnant in high school. One might think that by 1980, they would have been aware of contraception, and known they had the choice to finish school and go to college as we all had planned.
But they didn’t know, and no one was there to help them. They quit school, and never lived those dreams.
Not long after, I asked to talk to our priest after his sermon on the evils of contraception. He was pleased at my apparent interest but his mood quickly soured when I told him he was wrong. He asked my name, who my family was and where we lived. That was my first experience of blatant intimidation surrounding reproductive rights.
Many young women have grown up taking their reproductive rights for granted, thanks to the work of Planned Parenthood for nearly a century. But too many women and teens still don’t have choices, information or support.
And that’s why I am thrilled to tell you that I have been appointed the new President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. I want to educate and energize young women to continue to fight for the reproductive rights that are at risk everyday. And I want to bring reproductive health care, education, and support to millions of women and teens who still don’t have a choice to control their own destiny.
Our work together is more urgent today that ever. Planned Parenthood is the bedrock of the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and justice for all women and teens. Our mission is threatened every day: by extremist politicians, conservative jurists, harassment at our clinics, and health care policies that could roll back our progress unless we remain ever vigilant.
I have served Planned Parenthood of Illinois for more than a decade; as a board member and Treasurer, as Interim CEO, and now as President and CEO. My commitment and priority remains the same; to ensure that we are always here and that you can count on us.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you as we continue to serve all the patients who need us and be a strong voice for reproductive health and justice throughout Illinois and the preeminent provider of reproductive health care and education in the state.
Yours truly,
Carole Brite
President and CEO
Planned Parenthood of Illinois
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