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Hello! 

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2012, a big year for PPSO. The construction on our new Regional Health & Education Center is in full swing and the great weather is keeping our construction right on schedule.  We expect to open the new Center in late 2012!

We are so pleased to be hosting Hard Hat tours of the construction site twice a month.  If you would like to join us in visiting the site, please email [email protected].

Komen Kerfuffle

No on has spoken more eloquently about the Komen defunding/refunding than Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.  Here's her statement in full:

The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity.

During the last week, millions spontaneously joined a national conversation about lifesaving breast cancer prevention care and reinforced shared values about access to health care for all. This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological, and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation's better moments during a contentious political time.  Planned Parenthood thanks each and every person who has contributed to elevating the importance of breast cancer prevention for so many women in need.

In recent weeks, the treasured relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and Planned Parenthood has been challenged, and we are now heartened that we can continue to work in partnership toward our shared commitment to breast health for the most underserved women.  We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Komen partners, leaders and volunteers.  What these past few days have demonstrated is the deep resolve all Americans share in the fight against cancer, and we honor those who are at the helm of this battle.

Planned Parenthood has been a trusted partner with the Komen Foundation in early cancer detection and prevention services.  In particular, Planned Parenthood helps the Komen Foundation reach vulnerable populations - low-income women, African-American women, and Latinas - especially in rural areas and underserved communities where Planned Parenthood health centers are their only source of health care.  With Komen Foundation grants, over the past five years, Planned Parenthood health centers provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammogram referrals.  With the outpouring of support over the past week, even more women in need will receive lifesaving breast cancer care.

REV Youth Changing the World!
VOX supporters at Skidmore
One of our former REVolution youth, Emily Rooke-Ley, is now at Skidmore College in New York. Seeing that her campus did not have a VOX chapter she decided to take the lead and make it happen! Check out this article.

We have had several of our former youth take strong leadership roles in reproductive and sexual health once they graduate high school! We are so proud of these amazing young people continuing the good work they started while here at PPSO.


Why I Volunteer at PPSO- Lorena Galvin

 Lorena_volunteer 

Today I am 130 days away from my anticipated graduation from the University of Oregon. I acknowledge this degree is an accomplishment, and a privilege I have been fortunate enough to experience. However, as a woman I know my ability to have a college education is in part a result of my access to Planned Parenthood.  For years I have relied on Planned Parenthood's non-judgmental support, low cost birth control, and sexual health education so I may plan any potential pregnancy, and more importantly, avoid an unplanned one.

 

One day I showed up to an evening shift during my high school employment at a local restaurant, and realized four of the five females working had a protruding belly displaying their unplanned pregnancy under the dreary, uninviting fabric known as our work aprons.  Being one of the very few employees without an unplanned pregnancy at that job, my appreciation for Planned Parenthood's support ran deeper than I could have imagined. At the time, it seemed unplanned pregnancy in young women was a pandemic present in my high school, workplace, and the lives of friends and family. I refused to have any part of this pandemic; I wanted all of my goals and personal ambitions to come true without the interruption and responsibilities of motherhood. The feeling of desperation for these young mothers developed into sentiments of appreciation for Planned Parenthood, and further progressed into a sincere dedication to the mission and efforts of this very organization, which will allow me provide other young women with the knowledge and options of the health resources available to them.

 

At Planned Parenthood, I have found a wonderful organization filled with dedicated and passionate staff. This organization has helped maintain focus on my goals as a youth and as a woman. This organization has afforded me the opportunity to experience being a college student, and avoid the realities of an unplanned pregnancy while aiming for the realities that come with a college diploma. This organization makes me hopeful and excited for my future. I feel I could not give enough to Planned Parenthood to adequately reciprocate my appreciation for the future they have helped make possible for myself and millions of others, and this is why I volunteer at Planned Parenthood.

 

 

Funding From Major Foundations
Regional Health & Ed construction
Click the pic for a construction slide show!

We are thrilled to report that PPSO has received grants to help fund our new Regional Health & Education Center from both the Collins Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation.  It's significant that these two foundations are leaders in Oregon philanthropy and support PPSO.  Their participation in our highly visible community development project sends an important message to the philanthropic community.  There are pending requests out to several foundations totaling over $400,000 in support of the Center.
 
The Collins Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Oregonians.  In 2004, they funded PPSO's rural Outreach Express Project to open 3 new health centers.  In 2009, they also awarded PPSO $25,000 to help pay for a new, sophisticated billing software necessary to move to electronic health records. They understand that the Center will help us continue to build capacity to serve our community.  This $75,000 grant is in the top 10% of awards for Collins.
 
OCF funds about 35% of requests annually, so we are grateful for their $40,000 grant, especially they are operating under Recession Grant Principals focused on meeting immediate needs for low-income people.  This grant is double the average grant size and is the largest grant PPSO has received from OCF.
 
Our ongoing relationship with both of these major foundations proves that they value our continued work in the community.  We deeply appreciate their confidence in PPSO and support for our work.
In This Bulletin
* Komen Kerfuffle
* REV Youth Changing the World
* Why I Volunteer at PPSO
* Funding From Major Foundations

 * PPAO's board president's op-ed in the Register Guard 

 

* Cecile Richard's Letter to the Editor   

 

* Life before Roe v Wade 

Upcoming Events

 

February 9, 4:00 - 9:00, Eugene.  Affair of the Heart, Lane Events Center.

February 10, 8:00 -10pm, Eugene:

It's Not Me, It's You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating.  PPAO fundraiser, Cozmic Pizza.

March 14, Eugene/ Springfield:

Glenwood Community Meeting

 

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