Planned Parenthood Leadership Council Fall Training

In early October over 40 Planned Parenthood activists attended the Planned Parenthood Leadership Committee (PPLC) fall training in Miami.  Participants received intensive training around communication strategies, event planning, and grassroots organizing.  These newly-minted PPLC members are now working to educate their communities about improving public policy around access to birth control and comprehensive sex education.  To learn more about how you can become an ambassador for Planned Parenthood in your community email emily.caponetti@ppsoflo.org.

 New Members of Planned Parenthood Leadership Council

President/CEO Lillian A. Tamayo Celebrated her 10th Anniversary with Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast

Planned Parenhood supporters and Elected officials gathered in Miami on August 26, 2009 to celebrate Lillian A. Tamayo's 10th Anniversary as President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast(PPSFTC).  Under Lillian’s leadership, PPSFTC has grown from a small storefront office offering just pregnancy testing and counseling services to ten health centers serving an eight county region with a population size larger than 32 other states.  During Lillian’s ten year tenure, the affiliate has grown from a budget of $1.8 million to $10 million, from $600,000 in grant revenue to more than $3.5 million, and from thirty staff members to over one hundred.  Through innovative education and outreach programs such as La Promesa, Planned Parenthood also increased Hispanic access to reproductive health care in Palm Beach County by more than 130 percent and by more than 53 percent in Miami-Dade County.

Drag Me to the Ball Kick Off a Success!

Fifty Planned Parenthood supporters gathered for cocktails on August 26 for a kick-off party at Amici Ristorante & Bar for the Planned Parenthood's annual Drag Me to the Ball fundraiser to be held in November.  Event co-chairs Sandra Saladrigas and Nicole Millar mixed up the martinis as celebrity bartenders to raise awareness of Planned Parenthood’s Teen Time program at the August 26 cocktail party.  Friends of Planned Parenthood can join the Drag Me to the Ball committee members for two more nights on the town before the annual event is held November 7th.

Event Co-Chair Sandra and Husband Raphael Saladrigas    

Tradition of Choice
On April 17,  Planned Parenthood supporters in Miami attended Planned Parenthood’s annual Tradition of Choice event. Co-chairs Commissioner Sally Heyman and Annette Taddeo along with Honorary Chairs Commissioner Katy Sorenson and Dawn Fine, invited author and doctor Kenneth Edelin to share his experience as an early victim of the abortion wars in the 1970s when he was indicted and convicted on charges of manslaughter for performing a legal abortion.  Miami-Dade County’s Teacher of the Year, Patricia Fairclough, also spoke about her participation in Planned Parenthood’s Teen Time program as a young woman and her journey overcoming the obstacles of growing up in South Miami. 

Dr. Edelin and Planned Parenthod Staff

Special guest Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz also shared a legislative update with attendees about news from DC.

Cocktails for Change
On April 15, Planned Parenthood supporters in Vero Beach attended the trusted healthcare provider’s Cocktails for Change event. The event raised funds for Planned Parenthood programs. Event chairwoman Rosemarie Schulman, along with the event’s 20 committee members, invited author and doctor Harold Schulman to share insights with attendees from his new book, Women's Secrets, Men's Muscles, Unveiled: A Gynecologist's Exploration of Body, Mind, and Spirit, at a private Grand Harbour home. 

Pedro Movie Night
On April 1st, Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast joined dozens of other affiliates around the country in hosting a screening of MTV’s premiere of Pedro, an intimate biopic of the life and death of HIV/AIDS activist Pedro Zamoras.  Colleagues and friends of Pedro, local HIV educators and activists, and representatives from the Department of Health gathered to watch the premiere and participated in a brief discussion following the screening.  Every attendee signed a petition urging Governor Crist to reject Title V funding, and attendees were educated about educated about Planned Parenthood’s Get Yourself Tested (GYT09.com) campaign with MTV and our health centers locations and services.                                                                                                                                                  

Planned Parenthood Supporters at the Pedro Movie Premiere in Miami

Tallahassee Lobby Days                                                                                                                                                                                                                       On April 1st Planned Parenthood supporters from across the state traveled to Tallahassee to educate elected officials about the importance of comprehensive sex education and access to birth control.  Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast had a delegation of 22 activists including staff, board members, medical students and high school and college students. In just one day, the PPSFTC delegation met with 28 elected officials and staff representatives from the Governor’s office. 

Planned Parenthod Staff and Adult Role Models at Lobby Days Press Conference 

Palm Beach Pride Parade
On March 29, Planned Parenthood staff and activists participated in the annual Palm Beach Pride Parade. Marchers were greeted with cheers as they walked the route handing out condoms and safe sex materials for the parade audience! 

 Planned Parenthood Supporters Have Pride!

Cocktails with a Twist
On March 28, over one-hundred Planned Parenthood supporters in Martin County danced the night away at the Third Annual Cocktails with a Twist event. Held at a private residence in Sewall’s Point in Stuart, the fun and funky cocktail party benefiting Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast raised over $40,000 to support the organization’s critical reproductive health care and sexual health education programs. Chairs Patty Downing & Ann Young made sure that Planned Parenthood’s Cocktails with a Twist event was the hottest party in Martin County. Longtime Planned Parenthood supporter Betty Lahti was honored at the annual event with the Champion of the Year Award, which recognizes the honoree’s dedication to assisting Planned Parenthood in achieving its mission.

New Health Center Opens in Boca Raton
In early March, Planned Parenthood opened new health center doors in Boca Raton. An anonymous $500,000 donation to Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast allowed Planned Parenthood to expand access to critical reproductive health care and education services.  During this time of economic uncertainty, family planning funding is an investment in the health and well being of our community with clear benefits not only for individual women and their families, but also is a commonsense public health investment. 

Planned Parenthood Staff at the Boca Raton Health Center Grand Opening

Tradition of Choice
On February 6,  Planned Parenthood supporters in West Palm Beach attended Planned Parenthood’s annual Tradition of Choice event co-chaired by Carole Barham, Edith Broida & Ruth Krall.  The keynote speaker was none other than Cecile Richards, the President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. A special guest speaker included Samore Agrawal , a former Planned Parenthood Teen Time®   program participant from middle school all the way until highschool graduation.  She shared her college plans and high school success with the event’s guests of almost 300.

Planned Parenthood Staff with PPFA President, Ceclie Richards