Dear Planned Parenthood Family,
We are celebrating the 95th anniversary of Margaret Sanger’s courageous opening of the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, N.Y., which paved the way to the national network of more than 800 Planned Parenthood health centers that provide vital health services to over 3 million American women. We celebrate Sanger’s contribution to modern history, providing so many American women with the opportunity to plan their families and make healthy decisions to improve their families’ lives.
We are proud to report the following achievements this year, which have increased our visibility in our communities, increased access for clients and demonstrated successful business practices with financial stability during a very difficult economy:
• Developed and implemented a $550,000 funding plan for the Tampa Health Center renovation and expansion, completed in February and now offering surgical as well as medical abortion services;
• Expanded the Medical Research Program by one full-time staff person. The program now includes projects with Pfizer and Becton Dickinson, bringing in revenue for FY2011 totaling $139,997;
• Researched, analyzed and selected NextGen as the affiliate’s electronic practice management (EPM) and electronic health records (EHR) system for implementation by the end of 2013, at an estimated cost of almost $1 million, allowing us to participate in health care reform under the Affordable Health Care Act.
Although we have much to celebrate, this year we found ourselves spending far too much time and too many resources pushing against an unprecedented attack on family planning funding and, specifically, Planned Parenthood funding by Congress last spring. We mobilized, rallied and garnered over ONE MILLION new supporters across America and confirmed that the majority of Americans stand with us.
For 95 years, we have battled for common sense policies, recognizing the social and economic benefits of family planning and prevention services: for every dollar spent, $4 is saved. Despite our dire economy, our political leadership is not interested in the reality of our financial bargain. But the American public is, and knows that Planned Parenthood is here. One in five women in this country has used our services, and they count on our doors staying open.
As we enter this election season, let us stand together and fight the attacks on sexual health funding and service access and send a very clear message: Planned Parenthood will be an essential community health care provider through 2012 and beyond. Planned Parenthood … We’re Here.
Respectfully,
Barbara A. Zdravecky, President/CEO
Carolyn Johnson, Chair of the Board of Directors
Barbara A. Zdravecky, President/CEO
Carolyn Johnson, Chair of the Board of Directors
