Statement by Vicki Cowart on Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains 100 Year Anniversary
For Immediate Release: Sept. 13, 2016
FOR IMMEDITAE RELEASE
September 13, 2016
CONTACT
Whitney Phillips, 303-359-8519
Statement by Vicki Cowart on Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains 100 Year Anniversary
DENVER, CO –The following statement is attributable to Vicki Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.:
“One hundred years ago, ten women and men pioneered the idea of birth control access by forming the original Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Today, PPRM mission remains as relevant as it was in 1916. Our organization has dramatically improved lives across Colorado, our four-state region (Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming,) and beyond.
“At PPRM, we listen, we understand, and we provide answers. We deliver exceptional care to nearly 100,000 patients across the region every year. People drive hours from mountains towns and the eastern plains to come to our health centers to receive affordable, high-quality, compassionate care.
“And our care is more than just delivering a service. Patients leave with a renewed sense of empowerment about their health and their future. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to impact a person’s life and wellbeing in such profound ways.
“In the past 100 years, we have grown to be more than a health care provider. We have developed a complete sex education program where students learn how to take care of themselves and develop skills that will last a lifetime. This program has dramatically lowered the number of unintended pregnancies and improved high school dropout rates.
“We have changed the conversation around women’s access to complete reproductive health care services. Community members organize around shared values and shape the direction of our policy environment. Together, we have made birth control available and free to millions of women across the U.S.
“I am so proud to be the leader of a health organization that provides such needed services and such an important voice in Colorado.
“It takes a village to make this happen. We come together as staff members, donors, providers, educators, board members, activists, volunteers, and community partners. The level of passionate engagement and commitment within the PPRM community is unlike any community I’ve seen.
“Thank you to all the supporters here in Colorado who have stood by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains even in trying times. We could not have made so much progress without your support and we look forward to continuing our partnerships.
“I am moved by our past. I am inspired by the work we do today. And I cannot wait to see what the future will hold for this astonishing organization and how it will shape Colorado for centuries to come.”
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With approximately 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.