Past Events
Empower Gala
October 19, 2017
Our Empower Gala was a huge success raising over $450,000 and attended by 295 people. Guests had quite a night! They bid on silent auction items ranging from Hamilton tickets, to jewelry, to Giants and Rangers tickets, to culinary and spa experiences, and donated during our Live Pledge Moment led by Adam Lipson and our Gala co-chairs Denise Lipson and Susan Chatzky. Everyone was moved by our keynote speaker, reproductive justice advocate and abortion provider, Dr. Willie Parker, particularly when he spoke how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired him to believe that to be a true Christian, he must show compassion for all women, without judgment. Thank you to everyone who supported the event.
View photos of our Empower Gala.
Summer Benefit
July 2, 2017
Our Summer Benefit was a huge success and broke all previous records for revenue and attendance. Held on July 2 at the spectacular, waterfront home of Marsha and Henry Laufer in Old Field, the event raised more than $106,000 for programs and services in Suffolk and was attended by nearly 200 guests. Maria and Guy Reuge were honored for their long-standing support of Planned Parenthood’s mission and service to the community. Guests sampled eight wines from the Loire region of France, tasted delicious hors d’oeuvres from Elegant Eating, and had an opportunity to view Across the Line, a 360⁰ virtual reality film that puts the viewer in the shoes of a patient trying to access health care and the many obstacle she faces from protesters. Thank you to the event co-chairs, Vivian Viloria Fisher and James Feldstein and committee members Jamie Adler, Mary Bernero, Lily Cushenbery, Stefanie Fisher, Steve Israel, Harvard Lyman, Betsy and Philip Palmedo, and Tamra and Jerry Stoller.
View photos on our Facebook page.
East End Benefit
May 28, 2017
On Sunday, May 28, nearly 200 supporters kicked off the summer at our 29th Annual East End Benefit in Bridgehampton. Picture perfect weather, a beautiful location, and a strong turnout of ardent Planned Parenthood supporters all helped to make the event a great success. Many of the guests in attendance took the opportunity to view Across the Line, the virtual reality film we screened.
Everyone enjoyed the music of DJ Twilo, the wines of Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, beer from Montauk Brewing Company in Montauk, and catering by Elegant Eating.
View photos on our Facebook page.
Rockland County Benefit
April 19, 2017
On April 19, 75 guests turned out at the Nyack Center in Nyack, NY for our Rockland County Benefit. The event featured a cocktail reception, special screening of the documentary Trapped, and Q&A session with Bethany Sousa, Senior Policy Counsel, Public Policy Litigation & Law, Planned Parenthood Federation.
The group was motivated after viewing Trapped, which won a Peabody Award the very same day for the 2016 Independent Lens Documentary category. Many in the audience asked how they can have an impact politically to support PPHP, how to ensure the Reproductive Health Act is passed by the New York State Senate, and what impact the new administration is having on the introduction of new TRAP laws across the country. More than half of the guests signed our petition for the Reproductive Health Act, and these signatures will be sent to their senators.
A special thank you to the event committee for making it a huge success.View photos of our Rockland County Benefit.
70's Bash
February 4, 2017
PPHP brought the 70’s back on Saturday, February 4th for our 70’s Bash at the Eileen Fisher Learning Lab in Irvington, NY. This event came to us through a new group of donors from the Rivertowns in Westchester County who were so affected by the election results and were driven to do all in their power to stand with Planned Parenthood. Our co-chairs – Kimberly Meisner, Rochelle Steinwurtzel, and Allison Taylor along with their committee members contacted everyone in their community to attend the event, donate in-kind items, and donate items to the live and silent auction.
Over 160 guests danced the night away and enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and a signature cocktail, The Grapefruit Gimlet, from Special Attention Events along with wine and beer generously donated by all local companies. Our Board Chair, Joan Rosen and Interim President/CEO, Vincent Russell spoke to the crowd about how we are not as safe in New York State as we think we are and how to become involved with PPHP in the future. Our Community Health Educator, Jenna Manders, shared her powerful abortion story and there was not a dry eye in the house.
The co-chairs wanted to also help a Planned Parenthood affiliate who was at risk of strict state laws restricting women’s access to their reproductive health care, so Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, will receive half of the night’s proceeds.
View photos of our 70's Bash.
Empower Gala
September 27, 2016
On Tuesday, September 27, we hosted our annual Empower Gala at the Hilton Westchester with 320 supporters of PPHP. During the evening, we honored the Westchester Women’s Agenda for their incredible work as our community partner and Jane Orans for her lifetime commitment to PPHP. Former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis delivered an heart-felt and motivational keynote address about the struggles of her grandmother and mother and how she used their strength and experiences to get where she is, and we listened to our staff member Jenna as she told us her emotional story of getting an illegal abortion in Ecuador.
Throughout the evening, guests bid on items in the silent auction and purchased copies of Wendy Davis’s book, Forgetting to Be Afraid. We also auctioned two pairs of pink sneakers like those Wendy wore during her 13-hour filibuster to block HB-2 in 2013. Wendy then autographed the sneakers for the winning bidders. We also had a pledge moment, when guests showed their support for PPHP by making donations ranging from $5,000 to $100.
Several local legislators also attended and showed their support: NY State Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and George Lattimer, NY Assemblymembers David Buchwald, Sandy Galef, Ellen Jaffee, and Amy Paulin, Westchester County Legislators Catherine Parker and MaryJane Shimsky, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, and Mamaroneck Supervisor Nancy Seligson.
View photos of the Empower Gala.
Summer Benefit
July 10, 2016
On Sunday, July 10, we held our annual Summer Benefit at the home of Marsha and Henry Laufer in Old Field, NY. Set on a bluff overlooking the Long Island Sound and surrounded by spectacular gardens, more than 150 guests joined us in honoring retiring US Congressman Steve Israel and Tamra and Gerry Stoller for their dedication to PPHP.
During the event, guests had the opportunity to taste eight delicious wines and two Finlandia Vodka specialty drinks. During the live service auction, guests donated more than $14,000 to help us improve security at our 10 health centers and administrative offices. We will purchase indoor and exterior high-definition cameras at each of our health centers, motion-centered lighting, convex mirrors in hallways, and special peep holes for interiors doors.
Through the purchase of tickets and sponsorships, the silent auction, wine sales, and the service auction, more than $97,000 was raised for PPHP. It was a wonderful event, bringing together old friends and new.
View photos from the Summer Benefit.
28th Annual East End Benefit
May 29, 2016
It was a great kick-off to the summer on Sunday, May 29 at PPHP's 28th Annual East End Benefit. More than 320 guests enjoyed delicious food from Almond Restaurant, and tasty beverages from Casa Dragones Tequila, Channing Daughters Winery, and Montauk Brewing Company. Held at Steven Klein’s West Kill Farm in Bridgehampton, special guest award-winning actor Martha Plimpton spoke to the crowd about the importance of women and men having places like Planned Parenthood to go to for their health care needs and how we need to destigmatize abortion.
Music from Jesse Harris with Star Rover, DJ Twilo, and Jack & Eliza kept the guests entertained as they mixed and mingled with each other. In addition to raising $222,000 for PPHP’s health care services and education programs through sponsorship packages and tickets, guests also donated more than $28,000 for PPHP’s new, state-of-the-art health center being planned for Riverhead. Special thanks to the committee co-chairs Bonnie Buckner, Michael Halsband, Tracey Loggia, and Jill Scheuer for their hard work to make the event so successful.