Gloria Steinem, Iconic Feminist Activist, Honored at the Annual Champions Celebration to Benefit Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
Contact: [email protected]
For Immediate Release: Sept. 17, 2019
Annual Champions fundraiser celebrates the legacy of a leader of the women’s rights movement
(Providence, R.I.)–– On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) is proud to welcome the trailblazing women’s rights activist, writer, and lecturer Gloria Steinem to speak to supporters and advocates at the annual Champions celebration. This unforgettable evening will feature a special conversation with Ms. Steinem and PPSNE President and CEO Amanda Skinner. Tickets and sponsorships are available.
The event will be held at the VETS auditorium, One Avenue of the Arts in Providence. Sponsors and their guests are invited for an exclusive reception at 6:00 p.m. and doors open for general admission at 6:30 p.m. The featured presentation will begin at 7:15 p.m. Ms. Steinem was also a featured speaker at the PPSNE Annual Spring Luncheon held in Stamford, Connecticut, on April 3 of this year. At the event, she encouraged attendees to take action to fight back against continued attacks on women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
Steinem is a champion of women’s equality and a pioneer of the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s. As a writer and journalist, she has covered women’s issues including contraception, abortion, and workplace harassment for mainstream publications. Steinem co-founded Ms. magazine—a voice for women, by women—which challenged the social and family-life norms of the day. In 1971, she joined other prominent feminists, such as Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm, and Betty Friedan, to form the National Women’s Political Caucus to increase the number of women in all aspects of political life. Steinem has founded numerous organizations including Voters for Choice, a pro-choice political action group that became the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in 2004. She has worked to raise awareness for breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in 1986. Biography magazine named Steinem one of the “25 Most Influential Women in America”. In 2013, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Obama in recognition for her work as a leader in the women’s liberation movement.
“Gloria Steinem is a tireless leader in the fight for women’s equality. Her influence and impact have changed the course of history and I am so grateful for the opportunity to welcome her to Rhode Island to share her reflections on the pressing issues we face today,” said Amanda Skinner, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “At our Spring Luncheon, she inspired us to demand equality for all and to continue the fight to protect our most fundamental rights—I look forward to another powerful conversation that’s sure to fire up our crowd of Rhode Island supporters and advocates.”
Now in its seventh year, the Champions event celebrates remarkable individuals who have worked to protect and safeguard reproductive freedom for the people of Rhode Island and beyond.
All proceeds from Champions 2019 will go to care for PPSNE patients who receive high-quality, expert health care, regardless of their ability to pay. Annually, PPSNE serves 78,000 people, providing a range of critical, life-saving health care services, including breast cancer screenings, wellness exams, abortion care, birth control, STD/STI testing and treatment, and more.