Our History

1966: We hold our first medical clinic session in the basement of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, offering reproductive health care, sexually transmitted disease diagnosis and treatment, and contraception options.

1967: Our education program is developed in Sarasota County.

1980: The SOURCE Teen Theatre Program established in Sarasota.

1980: New, wholly owned clinic and administrative building dedicated in Sarasota.

1982: Co-authored 9th grade health curriculum for Sarasota County School Board.

1983: Colposcopy, for the identification of, and (in 1986) cryosurgery, for the removal of abnormal cervical cells, introduced.

1984: Tampa Center established, begins medical services.

1990: Co-authored 6th grade health curriculum for Sarasota County School Board.

1990: Education program established in Hillsborough County.

1991: Pre-recorded confidential HealthLine system established in Lee and Sarasota Counties.

1991: Developed "Be An Askable Parent" curriculum.

1992: Fort Myers Center established, begins medical services.

1993: Publication of first SOURCE Teen Theatre play. US Government makes video of SOURCE play for national distribution.

1993: Introduction of mid-life services, HIV testing and counseling, Syphilis testing and screening.

1995: Teen Clinics, with hours designated for teen patients, established.

1996: Introduction of Healthy Foundations education program for staff and parents of early child care centers.

1996: Introduction of male services for the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS.

1997: Education programs established in Lee and Manatee Counties.

1997: Our first High Tea at High Noon, an event designed to encourage women to openly connect their names to Planned Parenthood.

1998: Our first Safe Sax at Sunset, attracting 300 partiers of all ages and backgrounds.

1998: Launch of our Responsible Choices Action Network, part of a nationwide movement to develop an informed and activist grassroots base.

1998: Education program established in Pinellas & Polk Counties.

1998: Introduction of first trimester abortion services in Sarasota.

1998: Merger with Polk County affiliate (with health centers in Lakeland and Winter Haven), growing to seven counties, five health centers.

2000: St. Petersburg Center opens February 14, 2000.

2001: Introduce mifepristone as an option to surgical abortions.

2001: The Planned Parenthood family overwhelmingly approves a collaborative federation-wide campaign focused on public policy, creating healthier attitudes about sexuality, service delivery and expansion, information technology, and international services.

2001: In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack on the US, PPSWCF's six health centers receive death threat letters claiming to contain anthrax bacteria and signed by "The Army of God."

2001: Governor Bush cuts $125,000 in funding targeted toward providing women of limited means access to family planning services.

2002: Our donors number more than 2,000, providing 30% of the affiliate budget.

2002: Introduction of first trimester abortion services (medical and surgical) in St. Petersburg.

2003: Our CEO and President, Barbara A. Zdravecky, celebrated her tenth anniversary with PPSWCF.

2004: We win the 2004 Affiliate Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in the Clinical and Social Research category from Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

2004: Our Winter Haven center moved to a site with greater visibility and accessibility which resulted in increased patients and services.

2004: We traveled with over 200 advocates and supporters from our service area to Washington D.C. to be part of the million person march for reproductive choice and rights on April 25, 2004.

2004: The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS, in conjunction with The AIDS Institute, awarded our SOURCE Teen Theatre the Florida HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon Excellence Award - MAKE THE CHANGE for HIV/AIDS Prevention Education.

2005: Barbara A. Zdravecky, CEO & President, was honored by the National Council of Jewish Women at its annual Women of Power luncheon.

2005: First Diversity Summit held in St. Petersburg, presented by our affiliate's People of Color Advisory Group.

2006: We celebrate our 40th anniversary at our Annual Dinner with keynote speaker Anna Quindlen and new Planned Parenthood Federation president Cecile Richards. Over 600 attend in support of the affiliate's 40th Ruby Anniversary.

2006: Barbara A. Zdravecky, CEO & President, was named CEO of the Year by Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), as the 2006 winner of the highly coveted Ruth Green Award. 

2006: We win the Affiliate Excellence Award at the PPFA annual awards banquet for our strong volunteer program at the annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

2007: Ground-breaking ceremony for our new regional headquarters composed of the administrative offices and Sarasota clinician the Sarasota Rosemary District.

2008: Our first Health Center in Manatee County opens. Click here to read more.

2009: Grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at our new Gompertz Family Regional Headquarters located at 736 Central Avenue in Sarasota.

2009: Introduction of first trimester abortion services (medical) in Tampa.

2009: Introduction of first trimester abortion services (previously only medical and now including surgical) in Ft. Myers.

2010: Relocated our Pinellas County Health Center to better serve patients in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. The Center is now located at 8950 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street North, #102, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

2011: Expanded Tampa health center to accommodate patient demand and surgical abortion services.

2011: Established medical education programs to medical, nursing, physician assistant, nurse practitioner and medical assistant students throughout service area.

2012: Completed first phase of transition to electronic health records.

2012: The SOURCE garners two local media ADDY awards for prevention PSAs and films first semester of web-series “Freefall”

2012: Received first Federal Grant to implement evidence-based program helping at-risk teens stay in school and prevent pregnancy.

2013: The SOURCE completes its first web-series, Freefall, whose episodes have now been viewed more than 100,000 times.

2013: Begin accepting insurance for the first time, making it easier for our patients to access our services.