Nov. 7 Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson Celebration & Awards Event

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Sandra Fluke

• Bowman Kim Atkins

SCHENECTADY, NY (10/31/2013)(readMedia)-- Women's rights advocate Sandra Fluke will be the featured speaker at Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson's (PPMH) Annual Celebration, November 7 at the River Stone Manor in Glenville.

This year, PPMH celebrates generations of women who fought for access to affordable health care and reproductive rights. In his remarks, PPMH's new CEO Bowman Kim Atkins will speak about transforming lives through education and health care, and the local impact of the Affordable Care Act. Two remarkable Schenectadians, Roberta Steiner and Diane Wilkinson, will receive awards for their community activism on behalf of Planned Parenthood.

Featured Speaker

Fluke emerged as an icon in the War on Women during her 2012 testimony before Congress defending the new health care law's no-cost contraception benefit. She was then subjected to inflammatory remarks by a national talk radio host. An advocate for women's rights, Fluke currently works on legislative issues ranging from reproductive rights to domestic workers and human trafficking.

Local Awards

Roberta Steiner, Schenectady

Roberta Steiner will receive the prestigious Giraffe Award honoring her three decades of volunteer service to Planned Parenthood. This award recognizes individuals for "sticking their necks out" for Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson.

Steiner's decade of leadership on the PPMH board of directors helped transform the agency through a capital campaign encompassing five building projects, and investments in technology and business systems - which resulted in dramatic growth for the agency. As board chair for the last four years, Steiner's vision, commitment and guidance on critical initiatives helped transform Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson into a leading reproductive health care provider in the region, serving more than 20,000 women, men, and youth each year. A tireless advocate, Steiner's legacy includes notable legislative initiatives protecting reproductive rights.

Diane Wilkinson, Schenectady

Schenectady High School Principal, Diane Wilkinson will accept the Carol Valentine Award for her role in transforming students' lives through an ambitious plan linking youth development, health care and other services on campus to improve academic success and graduation rates. For more than 20 years, Wilkinson's dedication, innovation, and leadership have benefited students in our community. Wilkinson recently welcomed PPMH educators into Schenectady High School to provide evidence-based sexual health curriculum to students.

Evening Schedule

Join us for an evening of celebration and inspiration at the River Stone Manor in Glenville. The event begins at 5:30 with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by 6:45 remarks and awards, and concludes at 8:30 p.m. with desserts.

This year's Annual Celebration includes a silent auction and raffle to benefit the Valentine Patient Assistance Fund which helps uninsured and underinsured patients afford family planning services, cancer screenings, STI testing and other vital services.

Tickets

For more information, or to buy tickets online visit

http://ppmhannualcelebration.eventbrite.com/ or call 518.374.5353, ext. 218.

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Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson provides health services to more than 20,000 women and men each year at 10 health centers in the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley. Services include annual exams, birth control, cancer screening, HIV testing, and testing/treatment for sexually transmitted infections. PPMH is a trusted community resource for sexual health information.

Locations: Amsterdam, Clifton Park, Cobleskill, Glens Falls, Johnstown, Oneida, Rome, Saratoga, Schenectady and Utica.