As of January 1, it has been ten years since the merger of Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region (PPRSR) and Planned Parenthood of Western New York (PPWNY) launched Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York (PPCWNY). Ten years ago, the Boards of the legacy affiliates sought to build a stronger organization better positioned to meet the demands of a changing environment and provide an economy of scale that could sustainably deliver on our mission.
I started in my role as CEO in September 2016. During that time, I have strived to build a team and organization that enable us to fulfill our mission, effectively and sustainably. Our growth in the last ten years has been remarkable. Just a few examples:
- The number of patient visits has increased from 21,000 to 36,500.
- Our budget has climbed from $18 million to $29 million.
- The amount we spend on salaries and benefits has almost doubled from $10.3 million to $19.7 million.
- The number of people RESTORE has been able to serve has ballooned from 1,500 to 13,174.
- The number of people engaging with our Education services has more than quintupled, from about 8,000 to 46,723.
- Fundraising and grants revenue has nearly doubled, from $7.2 million to $13.6 million.
This past decade, the Planned Parenthood communities of the Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Niagara Falls regions have effectively pooled their resources and knowledge to create an even stronger, more comprehensive affiliate. Together, we have been able to make a greater impact across Central and Western New York. Together, we are better equipped to be there for the people we serve. Simply put, we are stronger together. As one of my favorite quotes, an African proverb, tells us, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
It’s been ten years of offering our communities expert care, education, and advocacy. I want to offer a special shout-out to the staff members and volunteers who have been at PPCWNY since the merger – I so appreciate your consistent dedication to our mission, your willingness to collaborate, and your perseverance as we built and established this organization. And, to all our newer folks, welcome! I am so thankful to have you onboard. I am so proud of the successes we’ve achieved since 2014. I look forward to another ten years of growth, adaptation, and care, no matter what, at PPCWNY.