Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Receives Record-Breaking Support at Annual Spring Luncheon

Today, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) held its annual Spring Luncheon at the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa in Stamford, Conn. The event drew a record-breaking crowd of over 625 friends, advocates and supporters who raised a staggering $650,000 for PPSNE.

Planned Parenthood celebrated 100 years of reproductive health care in October 2016, and today showed that support for Planned Parenthood is as strong as ever. Many in attendance cited the recent attacks on women’s health care and threats to “defund” Planned Parenthood as their reasons for attending this year’s event.

“The current attacks on Planned Parenthood and the threats to women’s health are unprecedented. The response to these attacks has been an absolute outpouring of organizing, activism, and support,” said Judy Tabar President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “It is because of our generous supporters that we are able to continue providing high-quality care to the community. Thank you for being here today, standing with us tomorrow, the day after that, and for as long as it takes to reach our vision of health equity for all.”

The PPSNE Spring Luncheon was co-chaired by Greenwich residents Erica Buchsbaum, Julie Church, Danielle Eason, Mary Shaw Halsey Marks, Donna Moffly and Sheila Mossman. Attendees included Stamford Mayor David Martin, Cynthia Blumenthal, Mary Himes, Greenwich YWCA President & CEO Mary Lee Kiernan, Junior League of Greenwich President Sue Moretti Rogers, Diane’s Books owner Diane Garrett, and former Community Impact Award recipients Marie-France Kern, Phoebe Erdman, Donna and Jack Moffly, and Nancie Schwarzman.

Keynote speaker Jonathan Eig, journalist and New York Times best-selling author, discussed his book The Birth of the Pill, which chronicles the history of contraception in the United States. He offered profound insight into the reproductive rights movement and spoke with candor, humor and optimism about the future of reproductive rights. Comedian and longtime Greenwich resident Jane Condon was the host for the third consecutive year.

The Community Impact Award – given annually to a leader who actively promotes the Planned Parenthood vision of reproductive health and human rights – was presented to Callie Sullivan. For decades, Sullivan has been an advocate for women and families, serving as an elected official in Darien, Conn. for 17 years and a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut.

One of the highlights of the program was the surprise testimony of 25-year old Ali Walensky, a Planned Parenthood patient who is currently battling breast cancer. Ali received a standing ovation for her emotional and compelling story.

“From the initial screening, diagnosis and care, Planned Parenthood has been there for me every step of the way. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be standing in front of you today,” Walensky said. “My life is one of the millions Planned Parenthood has saved through cancer screenings, STD testing, and accessible birth control. Those who want to see Planned Parenthood shut down don’t understand what this organization does every day. They fought for me and now it’s my turn to fight for them.”

All proceeds from the Annual Spring Luncheon go directly to care for PPSNE patients who receive high-quality health care, regardless of their ability to pay. Every year, nearly 70,000 women, men and young people rely on Planned Parenthood of Southern New England for convenient and high-quality care. More than 90 percent of services are preventive – including lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, birth control and well-woman check-ups.

For more information, visit ppsne.org.