Care & Compassion

For Supporters of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio

The Future of Sex Ed

PROGRAMS EMPOWERING YOUNG OHIOANS

RAISE YOUR VOICE

SUPPORTERS STAND UP AGAINST DEFUNDING

GIVING CARE

DONORS KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN

CARE & COMPASSION · FALL 2017 A Newsletter for Supporters of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio

Our mission is to protect, promote, and provide empowered health care and medically accurate sex education for generations of women, men, and families across Ohio.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio operates 19 health centers serving nearly 64,000 patients annually, and is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Board of Trustees President and CEO Iris E. Harvey Board of Trustees Jennifer McNally, Chair Sandra Anderson, Vice Chair Kate Asbeck, Treasurer Jonathan Petuchowski, Secretary Catherine Kessler Chatas, Past Chair Edgar Avila Ellen Barry Barbara Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN Fritz Byers, JD Paul Giorgianni, JD Mary Jo Green Stephen Keyes, JD Kimberly Moses, JD Rebecca Nelson Lauren Norelli Susan G. Quinn, OD, FAAO Deborah B. Ratner Joseph Ruby Hilary White Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent determined by the Internal Revenue Service.

206 E. State Street Columbus, OH 43215 614-224-2235 | ppgoh.org 1

YOUR COMPASSION At Planned Parenthood, we measure success by the number of lives we

change when Ohioans

receive the reproductive

“I decided to become a Planned Parenthood supporter during the presidential election. I knew I had to take a stand.”

– Michele Michele is one of the

health care and education they need and deserve.

You, our supporters and our partners, make that

success possible through

your care and compassion.

You are advocates, you

are fundraisers, you are

change-makers. In 2017,

you raised your voices to a roar, defending

reproductive freedom

and protecting the health

care of millions.

10,215 new donors to begin supporting Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio since November 8, 2016.

Thank You! Whether you’ve made your first gift or you’ve been a donor for 50 years, we are thrilled to have you as a part of the Planned Parenthood family.

Are you interested in learning more about the programs and services covered in the Care & Compassion newsletter? Our development officers are available to answer your questions, comments, and concerns. Send us your thoughts at newsletter@ppoh.org.

OUR THANKS Iris E. Harvey with Gloria Steinem during our Centennial event, May 2017

Dear Supporters, As I reflect on our Centennial year, with all of its triumphs

weighing on our immigrant communities, on people of

and tribulations, I’m reminded of the words of Dr. Martin

color, on the working poor, on women, on LGBTQ patients,

health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

can, where we are, for the Ohioans we serve.

Luther King, Jr.: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in

Dr. King’s remarks in Chicago in 1966 foreshadowed the

on our sick and uninsured — and we do all the good we

Earlier this year, thousands of you gathered to

fight he would lead that summer against inequalities

commemorate a century of Planned Parenthood’s care

transportation, income, and employment inflicted on

inspired by feminist activist Gloria Steinem and by the

in health care, criminal justice, housing, education,

and compassion. You left our Centennial celebrations

people of color. Dr. King showed us how those injustices

stories of our patients, staff, and donors. You turned your

wither only when we as a nation reform the entire system.

repeal the Affordable Care Act.

intertwined. He understood that discrimination would

inspiration into action, rallying against every effort to

Each of you has done your part to stand up against the

most egregious injustices in health care. I’m inspired by

“I’m inspired by your

humanity, compassion, and commitment every day.”

your humanity, compassion, and commitment every day.

I believe Dr. King would counsel us to carry forward,

together, in our holistic approach to solving inequities

in health care. I believe he would counsel us to keep

faith that the part we do for the women, men, and young

people of Ohio radiates out to families and communities,

and across generations.

With warmth and gratitude, This is the work we embark on every day as caregivers, educators, volunteers, community partners, and

supporters of Planned Parenthood. We see the troubles

Iris E. Harvey President and CEO

CARE & COMPASSION: A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO

2

17% OF OHIOANS AGED 12-17

3

receive sex education from Planned Parenthood. We educate the largest percentage of young people in any state in the Planned Parenthood federation.

EMPOWERING EDUCATION Planned Parenthood’s tried and trusted sex ed programs allow young Ohioans to shape their own destinies.

Holley Fowler Martens is troubled by the lack of

The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio funds Peer Education

public schools. “Many students are not equipped with

increased confidence in decision making and increase

education on positive, safe sexual relationships in Ohio’s knowledge of sexual health or healthy relationships,”

says Martens, a former social worker and grantmaker

who has worked extensively in Cleveland-area schools.

in the Columbus region. Teens in the program “have

their economic security,” says Sarah Pariser, Grants and

Programs Director for the Women’s Fund.

“Our teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates are unacceptable.”

In Ohio, four out of 10 high school students are

sexually active, and half of all new sexually transmitted

infections occur in adolescents.

“With education and access to prevention, these

“Our kids deserve the education and knowledge to protect themselves.”

rates could easily decrease,” says Martens, who is

dedicated to supporting the young people served by

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and, through her family foundation, has committed to bring Planned

Attacks on state and federal funding for Planned

Greater Cleveland area for the next three years.

and individual donors are vital to making these resources

Parenthood’s Peer Education Program to students in the

Using Planned Parenthood’s evidence-based Get Real!

Parenthood’s education programs mean foundations

accessible to all young Ohioans.

curriculum, our certified health educators deliver our

Students who have taken part in our Get Real! and

settings. They also train high schoolers to share medically

likelihood of using protection, are more likely to delay

Responsible Sexual Education program in a variety of

accurate information about sexuality and reproductive

health with their friends and classmates through our Peer

Education Program.

sexual activity, and have a reduced risk of pregnancy.

“There’s a dire need for comprehensive sexual education

Supporters are driving the expansion of these programs, putting this life-saving knowledge within reach for all

young Ohioans.

Responsible Sexual Education sessions have an increased

in Ohio,” says Diego Espino, Vice President of Community

Engagement for PPGOH. “Our kids deserve the education

and knowledge to protect themselves throughout their lives, and it’s up to us to make sure they have access.”

CARE & COMPASSION: A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO

4

GIVING CARE Compassion in action.

Dr. Adarsh E. Krishen first got involved with Planned Parenthood to make a difference in his community.

“I wanted to volunteer in a place where I could utilize

my medical expertise and make the greatest possible

difference,” says Dr. Krishen, who began volunteering on

his local Planned Parenthood medical committee in 2000.

With decades of clinical and leadership experience

practicing in Akron’s Summa Health System, Dr. Krishen’s

expertise in risk management has helped Planned

Parenthood deliver better outcomes and reduce the risk

of complications for patients in Ohio for the last 17 years.

Dr. Adarsh E. Krishen, Chief Medical Officer

As board chair of Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio, he helped lead the formation of Planned Parenthood of

Greater Ohio, maintaining the highest standards of care for patients throughout the merger.

Since he was named Chief Medical Officer in March of

2017, Dr. Krishen has led PPGOH in our mission to provide all Ohioans access to high-quality reproductive care.

Q: How do Ohio communities benefit from Planned Parenthood health centers and services?

A: “Every day, I see in-depth evidence of the importance

“You help our patients know

they’re not alone.”

- Adarsh E. Krishen, MD, MMM, FAAP

of the care we provide. Our health services and

educational programs provide significant value in reducing

unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infection propagation, and we’re a great resource for well-woman

Ohioans who would be cut off from their care through

medically underserved communities. In my mind, there

reimbursements.”

care. We are a critical safety-net provider in our rural and is no way hospitals or other sources of clinical care could provide care to the number of people that we serve.”

Q: What impact do supporters have on our patients?

A: “Their support funds everything from direct care to medications to facility maintenance. That is critically

5

important for our patients, particularly the 24,000

defunding of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid service

Q: What inspires you about your work?

A: “Our supporters, who stand up to every defunding

threat. They allow us to continue providing high-quality

care and also provide an intangible, emotional impact.

They help our patients and staff know they’re not alone.”

CARE & COMPASSION: A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO

RAISE YOUR VOICE Host a Party with a Purpose.

Since the election, your

voices have echoed from Lake Erie to the National

Mall: “We’re not going to take this lying down, and we will not go back!”

Download your toolkit or contact our events team

to get your party started: ppgoh.org/getinvolved 216-446-6204

You’ve marched in the

Planned Parenthood, and

you’ve had some fun along the way! In private homes

and community gathering

places across Ohio, you’ve

kept the movement strong by hosting fundraisers.

streets demanding

Thank you for channeling

that reproductive rights

compassion — into action!

equity and declaring

are human rights. You’ve raised hell to delay and

defeat attempts to defund

your outrage — and your

This year, your parties have provided: Evidence-based sex education for 7,000 Ohio teens.

Breast and cervical cancer screenings for 200 Ohio women.

LARCs or Longacting Reversible Contraception for 70 Ohio women.

Our party rallied people

to help Ohioans get health care and stand up for reproductive rights.” - Susan & Misty Party with a Purpose hosts with guests (from left): Susan Polakoff Shaw, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Connie Schultz, Misty Elek, & Kara Vlach-Lasher

6

206 EAST STATE STREET COLUMBUS, OH 43215

WHY I GIVE What Planned Parenthood means to me...

“I choose Planned Parenthood as one of my top three

organizations that I support. I think it provides such a basic right for women and families, something that affects each

and every one of us.”

Join me in supporting Planned Parenthood.

“We have to continue to be feisty and be sassy and to help

“Planned Parenthood is a lifeline for so many women who think they don’t have options.

Planned Parenthood shows them that they do.”

- Sandy Holmes, steadfast supporter

Planned Parenthood continue with its mission. I think it’s

critical. Bring your friends and your colleagues and your

family into the conversation. See if you can recruit some new foot soldiers for Planned Parenthood — because we need

you now more than ever.”