Affiliate History

1966: PPSWCF holds first medical clinic session in the basement of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, offering reproductive health care, sexually transmitted disease diagnosis and treatment, and contraception options.

1967: PPSWCF Education program developed in Sarasota County.

1980: The SOURCE Teen Theatre Program established in Sarasota.

1980: New, wholly owned clinic and administrative building dedicated in Sarasota.

1982: Co-authored 9th grade health curriculum for Sarasota County School Board.

1983: Colposcopy, for the identification of, and (in 1986) cryosurgery, for the removal of abnormal cervical cells, introduced.

1984: Tampa Center established, begins medical services.

1990: Co-authored 6th grade health curriculum for Sarasota County School Board.

1990: Education program established in Hillsborough County.

1991: Pre-recorded confidential HealthLine system established in Lee and Sarasota Counties.

1991: Developed "Be An Askable Parent" curriculum.

1992: Fort Myers Center established, begins medical services.

1993: Publication of first SOURCE Teen Theatre play. US Government makes video of SOURCE play for national distribution.

1993: PPSWCF introduces mid-life services, HIV testing and counseling, Syphilis testing and screening.

1995: Teen Clinics, with hours designated for teen clients, established.

1996: Introduction of Healthy Foundations education program for staff and parents of early child care centers.

1996: Introduction of male services for the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS.

1997: Education programs established in Lee and Manatee Counties.
1997: PPSWCF holds first High Tea at High Noon, an event designed to encourage women to openly connect their names to Planned Parenthood.

1998: PPSWCF holds press conferences on the 25th anniversary of Roe v. Wade to advocate for privacy, access and responsible choices.

1998: PPSWCF holds first Safe Sax at Sunset, attracting 300 partiers of all ages and backgrounds.

1998: PPSWCF launches its Responsible Choices Action Network, part of a nationwide movement to develop an informed and activist grassroots base.

1998: Education program established in Pinellas & Polk Counties.

1998: Introduction of first trimester abortion services in Sarasota.

1998: Merger with Polk County affiliate (with health centers in Lakeland and Winter Haven), growing to seven counties, five health centers.

2000: St. Petersburg Center opens February 14, 2000.

2001: PPSWCF introduces mifepristone as an option to surgical abortions.

2001: The Planned Parenthood family overwhelmingly approves a collaborative federation-wide campaign focused on public policy, creating healthier attitudes about sexuality, service delivery and expansion, information technology, and international services.

2001: In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack on the US, PPSWCF's six health centers receive death threat letters claiming to contain anthrax bacteria and signed by "The Army of God."

2001: Governor Bush cuts $125,000 in funding targeted toward providing women of limited means access to family planning services.

2002: PPSWCF donors number more than 2,000, providing 30% of the affiliate budget.

2002: Introduction of first trimester abortion services (medical and surgical) in St. Petersburg.

2003: Our CEO and President, Barbara A. Zdravecky, celebrated her tenth anniversary with PPSWCF.

2004: Affiliate wins the 2004 Affiliate Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in the Clinical and Social Research category from Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

2004: Our Winter Haven center was moved to a site with greater visibility and accessibility which has resulted in increased patients and services.

2004: We traveled with over 200 advocates and supporters from our service area to Washington D.C. to be part of the million person march for reproductive choice and rights on April 25, 2004.

2004: The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS, in conjunction with The AIDS Institute, awarded PPSWCF's SOURCE Teen Theatre the Florida HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon Excellence Award - MAKE THE CHANGE for HIV/AIDS Prevention Education.

2005: Barbara A. Zdravecky, CEO & President of PPSWCF was honored by the National Council of Jewish Women at its annual Women of Power luncheon.

2005: First Diversity Summit held in St. Petersburg, presented by the affiliate's People of Color Advisory Group.

 2006: PPSWCF celebrates its 40th anniversary at its Annual Dinner with keynote speaker, Anna Quindlen and new Planned Parenthood Federation president, Cecile Richards. Over 600 attend in support of the affiliate's 40th Ruby Anniversary.

2006: Barbara A. Zdravecky, CEO and President of PPSWCF was named CEO of the Year by Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), as the 2006 winner of the highly coveted Ruth Green Award. Zdravecky was designated most outstanding CEO at the PPFA annual awards banquet held on March 30 during its "Hope, Justice, Freedom" themed annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

2006: PPSWCF wins the Affiliate Excellence Award at the PPFA annual awards banquet for its strong volunteer program at the annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

2007: PPSWCF holds ground-breaking ceremony for its new regional headquarters composed of the administrative offices and Sarasota clinic in the Sarasota Rosemary District.

2008: PPSWCF opens its first Health Center in Manatee County.  Click here to read more.

PPSWCF held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at our new Gompertz Family Regional Headquarters located at 736 Central Avenue in Sarasota.

2009:  PPSWCF relocated its Pinellas County Health Center to better serve clients in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.  The Center is now located at 10051 5th Street North, #109, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

2009: Introduction of first trimester abortion services (medical) in Tampa.

2009: Introduction of first trimester abortion services (previously only medical and now including surgical) in Ft. Myers.