Planned Parenthood DC raises more than $110,000 in support of Contraceptive Equity Fund at annual Gala
Contact:
Nora Franco
[email protected]
(202)763-7411
For Immediate Release: April 25, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC -- Planned Parenthood held its signature Gala on Friday, April 20, 2018. The theme was “Sharing Our Past: Shaping Our Future.” More than 375 supporters gathered at historic Union Station and raised more than $110,000 during a silent auction at the event in support of PPMW’s Contraceptive Equity Fund. Gross proceeds from the gala exceeded $400,000.
As the federal government chips away at the Affordable Care Act and continuously tries to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, PPMW established the Contraceptive Equity Fund, offering patients financial assistance in choosing their preferred birth control method, ensuring that all patients who seek birth control as part of their family planning options will be well informed and be able to do so.
“We noticed that many of the uninsured women coming into our health centers were unable to afford long-acting contraceptives like IUDs and implants,” said Laura Meyers, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC. “We created the Contraceptive Equity Fund to bridge this gap.”
Special guest Angela Rye, NPR political analyst and CNN political commentator, spoke about Planned Parenthood’s importance, reproductive rights, and the hostile administration.
“It is appalling that in 2018, our elected officials continually attack access to contraceptives and preventive reproductive health care,” said Dr. Meyers. “PPMW is doing everything we can to protect our care and protect our patients.”
On April 21,1936, a courageous group of women and men gathered at the Women’s City Club to consider how to help families in dire circumstances. Their intent was to bring reproductive health care and information to the most vulnerable, even though this went against the norms and laws of the time. They formed the “Family Betterment Committee of Washington” which later became Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC. Today, PPMW remains both the oldest and largest provider of family planning services in Metropolitan DC.