Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has a brand new event.
The inaugural "Generations Strong" drew a sold-out crowd to The Campbell Hotel on historic Route 66 and helped raise more than $103,000 for the organization's mission in Tulsa and eastern Oklahoma.
The evening's special guest, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, praised the local group and said that it has been "successful in Tulsa for decades and will be for many decades to come."
"When I found out that this was the first big Planned Parenthood dinner in Tulsa, I jumped at the chance to come. And I wasn't the only one - the gala had been sold out for weeks," Richards said. "It was inspirational to meet and spend time with so many people in Tulsa who are committed to ensuring that Planned Parenthood can continue providing preventive health care to Tulsa's women, men and young people."
The overflow crowd also heard comments from Planned Parenthood of the Heartland CEO Jill June.
Steven Dow and Stacy Schusterman were honorary event chairs. Kimberly Butler was gala chairwoman. Other committee members and contributors included Laura Thomas, Cecilia Wessinger, Melissa Fell, Michelle Duhl, Elizabeth Berry and Mahvash Khosrowyar.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland board members in attendance included Michelle Duhl; David Kroll, with his wife, Marjorie; Greg Gray, with his wife, Sharon Bell; and Caroline Abbott.
Major sponsors included Samson Energy Co., the John Steele Zink Foundation, Mike and Bette Graves, Kim and Rob Coretz, George Krumme, Williams Cos., Mary Lhevine and George Schnetzer, the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Foundation, Elizabeth Dawn Campbell, and Farhad Daroga.
Other sponsors and guests included Maxine Zarrow, Bill Major, Gail and Kip Richards, Bob and Roxana Lorton, Maggie Hille-Yar, Patsy Savage, Joan Flint, Karen and Barry Davis, Nancy and Raymond Feldman, Darrell and Velma Mayfield, Robert and Deloris Taylor, Monica Basu, Alison Anthony, John W. Ingraham, Martha B. Kamp, Kathryn Thomas, Suzanne Schreiber, Sally and Jim Frasier, Joe and Nancy McDonald, and Patty Eaton.
Planned Parenthood staff on hand to greet guests included Emily Williams-Bouska, chief development officer; Penny Dickey, chief operating officer; Kate Neary-Pounds, regional development director; Patrick Schnake, communications manager; Elizabeth Dawn Campbell, family practice physician; and David Ronk, assistant medical director.
Supported by volunteers, funded in part by donations and staffed by dedicated employees, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland continues its tradition of providing accessible, affordable reproductive health care, and education and advocacy for reproductive rights. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay.
With four health centers in the Tulsa area, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland's mission is to be a leader in providing accessible reproductive health care, education and advocacy.
