FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2010

Contact:  Ana Sandoval, PPAC communications

  916.446.5247 or 916.712.6239 (cell)

Planned Parenthood: We're Here

1000 activists are here for

Planned Parenthood's annual Capitol Day

SACRAMENTO -- Today, 1000 Planned Parenthood supporters are here at the State Capitol in support of the range of preventive health care services offered by Planned Parenthood. Coming from as far as San Diego and Eureka, participants will cheer on a host of legislative speakers at a morning rally before meeting with their local legislators and staff to educate them on the importance of fully funding cost-effective preventive health care like those services provided by Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood's preventive services include life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, well-woman exams, contraceptive services, STD prevention and treatment, and much more.

"We're here with the strength of 1000 supporters to celebrate and educate legislators about the many preventive services Planned Parenthood health centers provide every day," said Kathy Kneer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. "We believe health care is a basic human right – one that's dispensed freely and without judgment to every person – regardless of race, gender, class or age. That's why we are there for men and women of all ages. Planned Parenthood is there for individuals, families, and communities, saving our state money during this critical time in our economy."

California prides itself as a national leader in the area of prevention and Planned Parenthood is one of the largest safety-net providers of preventive health care in the state. For more than 90 years building healthy communities has been Planned Parenthood's mission. We have been here providing essential services to all Californians regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or their ability to pay. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of these services are dedicated to family planning and other preventive health care services.

Planned Parenthood Capitol Day 2010, with the theme of "We're Here", features a morning rally on the North Steps of the Capitol including speeches by members of the California State Legislature. Confirmed speakers include State Senators Mark DeSaulnier, Loni Hancock, Mark Leno, Gloria Romero, and State Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano, Charles Calderon, Kevin DeLeon, Mike Eng, Noreen Evans, Paul Fong, Mary Hayashi, Ed Hernandez, Dave Jones, Tony Mendoza, Bill Monning, Pedro Nava, Mary Salas, and Lori Saldana.

Other rally speakers include Mary Shallenberger, Board Chair, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Master of Ceremonies; Kathy Kneer, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California; Claudia Estrada, public affairs coordinator, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles; Sarah Villa and Sadie Rodriguez, mom/daughter volunteers. There will also be performances by Spare Change, a teen drama group from Humboldt County and Stockton Rapper NCredible.

Planned Parenthood's Capitol Day 2010 includes a health education fair on the North Steps of the Capitol, a rally followed by a march to the Sacramento Convention Center, informational workshops and legislative lobbying visits by supporters of preventive health care.

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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California's nine separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and comprehensive sex education.