Planned Parenthood Arizona President & CEO Set to Depart, Take Helm of National Reproductive Freedom Organization
For Immediate Release: July 13, 2023
Contact: Feldman Strategies, [email protected]
PHOENIX — Today, Thursday, July 13th, Planned Parenthood Arizona is announcing that Planned Parenthood Arizona President and CEO Brittany Fonteno will leave the organization at the beginning of next month.
Fonteno has led Planned Parenthood Arizona since November of 2021, where she has navigated the organization through unprecedented times including the lead up to the Supreme Court stripping away Americans’ federal constitutional right to an abortion and through the first year of the post-Roe era.
While anti-abortion extremists wanted Arizonans to believe that the fall of Roe would mean the fall of Planned Parenthood, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Over the last year, through a landscape of chaos and confusion, Planned Parenthood Arizona has not only remained open, but has expanded services and built critical relationships across the country ensuring Arizonans’ access to essential health care.
“It has been a deep privilege to serve as the leader of Planned Parenthood Arizona at such an unprecedented time for abortion rights in our history. I know that because of the work we have done together over the past year and a half, the days ahead for Planned Parenthood Arizona are bright,” said Planned Parenthood Arizona President and CEO Brittany Fonteno. “My dedication to securing reproductive freedom for all Americans is not over, and I will be continuing the fight at the national level. I look forward to working in partnership with Planned Parenthood Arizona to achieve these shared goals.”
Planned Parenthood Arizona’s success in this historic moment for reproductive rights led national organizations to take notice. Fonteno will leave Planned Parenthood Arizona and join the National Abortion Federation, the nation’s leading association of abortion providers, as their next CEO.
“While we will miss Brittany’s leadership in Arizona, we are excited about the partnership that lies ahead,” said Sheena Chiang and Astrid Henao, Co-Chairs of Planned Parenthood Arizona’s Board of Directors. “Brittany played a pivotal role guiding us through a historic moment and leaves us with a strong foundation for the future. We are committed to continuing to expand Arizonans’ access to essential sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care.”
Fonteno’s last day at Planned Parenthood Arizona will be August 4th and she will also step down as president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. In the coming weeks, Planned Parenthood Arizona will announce an interim president and CEO and launch a national search to fill the position.
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