Planned Parenthood of Illinois and Local Teen Awareness Group Kick-Off Health Center Remodeling

Champaign, IL – Today Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL), including President and CEO Carole Brite, the PPIL Board, and high school teens from PPIL’s local Teen Awareness Group gathered at the Planned Parenthood health center at 302 E. Stoughton St. to kick-start the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility.

The $2.3 million building project will allow PPIL to expand its reproductive health care services and patient base in the Champaign area. Currently, the Champaign health center serves more than 11,000 patients annually and offers services ranging from gynecological exams, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, clinical breast exams, birth control services, men’s health services, and much more.

“With the passage of national health care reform, we anticipate a surge in our patient base as many more individuals gain access to our services through national and state health programs.” said Carole Brite, PPIL President and CEO. “The remodeling will ensure that we have the capacity to continue to meet critical health care needs in and around Champaign County.”

As a part of the kick-off, Carole Brite, PPIL Board Chair Rev. Randall Doubet-King, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Jean Paley, Cecile Steinberg, and Joy Thornton-Walter, and local Teen Awareness Group peer educators participated in a wall-breaking of the old facility to symbolize a brighter future for reproductive health care in Champaign Country. (Photo available)

Rev. Randall Doubet-King also presented PPIL with a $285,475.19 check on behalf of the PPIL Board to go towards a Capital Campaign for the renovation. (Photo available) PPIL has also been awarded with a Kresge Foundation challenge grant for the health center remodeling. In order to receive the $250,000 grant, PPIL must raise an additional $600,000 by January 2011.

“We have just over $600,000 left to raise between now and January 2011,” said Joy Thornton-Walter, Champaign resident and Capital Campaign Co-Chair. “Together we can reach our goal and help support the thousands of Champaign-area patients who rely on Planned Parenthood’s health care services every day.”

Plans for the remodeled health center include updated exam rooms, waiting areas, and education programming rooms for PPIL’s Teen Awareness Group. The updated facility will also allow PPIL to potentially introduce new services to the Champaign area, including LEEP, hysteroscopic sterilization, vasectomies, and endometrial ablation.

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Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) provides affordably priced high-quality reproductive health care services to women and families throughout Illinois. Through health care services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive rights of each individual. For more information, visit www.ppil.org.