Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette Receives $15 Million Transformational Gift

Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette has received a $15 million gift — the single largest unrestricted gift in PPCW’s 59-year history. This transformational gift by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott will be used to advance health equity in Oregon and Southwest Washington; expand services and access to sexual and reproductive health care; sustain our education and outreach programs; and support and invest in our future.

As the dismantling of Roe v. Wade is imminent, we are at a crisis moment for access to sexual and reproductive health care in the United States. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe, 26 states will be poised to ban abortion — putting more than 36 million women, trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people at risk of losing access to abortion care, which will disproportionally impact BIPOC and tribal communities.

Nationwide, we are witnessing growing attacks on voting rights, which aim to disenfranchise BIPOC and tribal communities; attacks on the rights of trans and nonbinary individuals; and attacks on access to sexual and reproductive health care, especially abortion. PPCW recognizes that these movements are inextricably linked. 

Regionally, Idaho recently passed a Texas-style 6-week abortion ban, which will force patients to travel upward of 250 miles each way to receive essential health care. PPCW’s health centers have already felt the impact of recently enacted state restrictions throughout the country, and we expect a significant increase if Roe is dismantled. This gift comes at a critical time for PPCW to provide, promote and protect equitable access to health care in our region.

Statement from Anne Udall, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and Ashley Thirstrup, PPCW Board Chair: 

“We want to express our deep gratitude for MacKenzie Scott’s generosity. We are humbled by the magnitude of this gift, knowing that it has the power to help transform and expand access to care and education for our communities, as well as to support and invest in our staff. With this gift, we have the opportunity to implement a long-term, multiyear strategy, in partnership with our community, to build the future of sexual and reproductive health care and education in Oregon and Southwest Washington.” 

Because of the remarkable support we receive in Oregon and Washington — from our elected officials, our health care and education leaders, our community partners, our supporters and our donors — we have focused our efforts on building our capacity for this moment. PPCW urges all who support this essential work to join with MacKenzie Scott and PPCW in fighting back during this time of great public health need