PLANNED PARENTHOOD DIAMOND AWARD GALA SET FOR NOV. 3, 2012

Cincinnati (October 8, 2012) – Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region (PPSWO) will honor volunteer and longtime supporter Karen Wachs at its annual Diamond Award Gala on Saturday evening, Nov. 3, 2012, at the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center at the University of Cincinnati.

The event will bring together PPSWO’s leadership and area residents committed to supporting the leading reproductive health care provider, educator and advocate for Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky communities.

Karen Wachs began her involvement with Planned Parenthood in 1990 as a volunteer in its Auburn Avenue clinic. Shortly thereafter she joined the organization’s development staff, taking on the responsibilities of publications and volunteer coordination. In particular, she played a key role in creating Clergy for Choice, a coalition of local clergy willing to stand up for publicly for choice.

In 1995, Wachs left the staff and became a member of the organization’s board of directors. As a board member she continued her focus on fundraising, chairing a development committee and leading the celebration of Planned Parenthood’s 75th anniversary in Southwest Ohio in 2005. That year, she co-chaired a significant capital campaign for the Planned Parenthood Cincinnati Region Foundation, raising close to $4 million from supporters to ensure the continuation of the affiliate’s education, advocacy and leadership efforts. Since 2011, she has chaired the Foundation’s board of directors.

In addition to her work on behalf of Planned Parenthood, Karen serves on the board of the Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center and she is a trustee of the Jack J. Smith Charitable Foundation. She is a member of Community Shares, the Northern Kentucky Chapter of the Sierra Club and an activist for and supporter of numerous environmental and conservation organizations.

The Diamond Award Gala also includes a sit-down dinner and features a silent auction with numerous attractive items available for bidding, including several vacation homes. The Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center (151 Goodman Drive, Cincinnati) is a beautiful setting for the event, with ample parking available on site.

Admission is $175 per person (which represents a tax-deductible donation of $115 to PPSWO); full tables of eight can be purchased and various sponsorship levels are available for those who wish to demonstrate their support for PPSWO’s efforts. Reservations can be made online at www.ppswo.org or by calling 513-824-7810. Additional information is available on http://www.facebook.com/PPSWO.

Serving 20 counties in Southwestern Ohio and three in Northern Kentucky, PPSWO strengthens our community by preventing unintended pregnancy and empowering individuals with the knowledge, opportunity and freedom to make private decisions about reproductive and sexual health.  With eight health centers throughout the region, it is PPSWO’s goal to provide reproductive health care services to any individual who wants or needs them; to advocate public policies which guarantee each individual's access to services, right to privacy and ability to make reproductive decisions free of coercion; and to provide human sexuality education which enhances the health and well-being of individuals in the community. PPSWO is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.