2023 versus Luncheon Program

today’s program

REMARKS

Chau Nguyen

Social Worker, Advocate, and Storyteller

Melaney A. Linton

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, President & CEO

Elena Marks

2023 Second Century Award Recipient

VIDEO PRESENTATION

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REMARKS FROM CO-CHAIRS

Barbara, Ginger, Janet, and Vivian Clark

PANEL DISCUSSION

Dr. Bhavik Kumar

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Medical Director -

Primary and Trans Care

Chau Nguyen

Social Worker, Advocate, and Storyteller

Joana Calderon

Planned Parenthood, Storyteller

EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT

Bernadette Blanco

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Director of Education

CLOSING REMARKS

Robin O’Neil

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Board Chair

a letter from our president

Dear Friends,

This past year has been tumultuous and exhausting, but the support of our community and patients means so much to each and every one of us. Whether you have been attending this luncheon and supporting us for decades, or this is your first time joining us—we are so glad you are here.

Planned Parenthood has always been pushing forward and fighting against the forces that would restrict our individual human rights. Versus has always been at the center of the Roe versus Wade Luncheon . The singular word versus reminds us we were founded as a resistance movement. Versus reminds us that we are here to fight for what we believe in. And together, I believe, that we can turn versus into victory.

We know now what we knew all along—that this has never truly been about abortion, it’s about our ability to control our own bodies and our own lives. The attacks will keep coming. And we will keep doing everything we can to continue providing care.

We know that anti-abortion rights lawmakers won’t stop at banning abortion—they’re working toward a broader agenda to roll back our rights and freedoms, from access to affordable birth control to LGBTQ+ rights, and more. In Texas, we know that lawmakers are prioritizing attacks on access to health care for trans folks this session.

Even in this most challenging of years, I am proud to say our doors are open, our teams are bravely and proudly providing care and education, and fulfilling our mission across Houston, southeast Texas, and Louisiana.

I want to share my deepest gratitude and total awe for the work our C.A.R.E. Center team has been doing since Senate Bill 8 passed in Texas. Their compassion for our patients, their competency, and knowledge around an issue that is constantly changing, and the fortitude they demonstrate every day are an inspiration and a reminder of the strength we have on our side.

Our movement is more than one fight. Battles are won and lost. But we will continue to speak truth and press forward. Together.

Until Victory,

Melaney A. Linton

a letter from our co-chairs

Dear versus Luncheon Guests,

Thank you for joining us for the 2023 versus Luncheon and for everything you do to support Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC).

We are so excited to chair this year’s luncheon, especially as we introduce the new name, versus. After celebrating 49 years of abortion access granted to us from the decision in Roe v. Wade , we are all having to adapt to this new reality. And while the name of the luncheon has changed, the mission of this luncheon and this organization remain the same. We are honored to continue supporting PPGC and we are proud to see all of you here today to show your support as well.

Planned Parenthood knows the importance of getting the care you need and the dangers of not getting it. The Dobbs decision brings with it a surge of unintended consequences. It does not get rid of the need for abortions, but makes getting them more challenging and riskier. Our adversaries have shown blatant disregard for the health and well-being of the people these anti-abortion laws impact. There are circumstances that go beyond the comprehension of lawmakers. Circumstances that should only be navigated by patients and their doctors. We support PPGC because we have a shared vision of all people receiving comprehensive and inclusive sex education, access to contraception, and all the options to help them achieve the best outcome for themselves and their families.

Our collective strength and determination are being tested, but when we come together, we are an unstoppable force. Over the past few years, we have had to deal with devastating decisions from our political and judicial leaders, from SB8 to the overturning of Roe . Yet still, we are here. As a demonstration of our commitment to inclusive, quality and accessible care, the doors of Planned Parenthood remain open. And while we know there are more challenges to come, together, we will not stop until the v stands for victory.

In Steadfast Support, Barbara, Ginger, Janet, and

Vivian Clark

second century award

ELENA MARKS, 2023 RECIPIENT

Elena M. Marks has been a long-time supporter, friend, and donor of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. For decades her dedication has helped PPGC, its patients, and our community. She has served on our board and even was one of our compassionate Hand Holders. Our Hand Holders were a group of incredible volunteers that would be in the room with patients during their abortions, providing them with comfort and companionship.

Elena’s professional life reflects her deep investment in reproductive health care. She is currently a Senior Fellow in Health at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Her work centers on improving health outcomes for all Texans, with an emphasis on people with low incomes and members of marginalized groups. From 2014 – 2022, Ms. Marks served as the Founding President and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to health equity in Texas.

We are grateful to have had her support all these years and we are proud to honor her with our Second Century Award this year.

PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS

SECOND CENTURY AWARD: Hand Holders; Lillie Robertson, Beth Robertson, & Cullen Geiselman; Melanie Gray; The Clayton Family

LEGACY CIRCLE HONOREES: Louella Breedlove*; Betty Lou Carter*; Abby Ray Catledge*; Richard Colt*; Peter J. Durkin; Flora Fenner*; Tina Freeman; Karen Ostrum George; Melanie Gray; Susan Gundlach; Dr. Holley Galland Haymaker; Peggy Heaton*; Burdine Clayton Johnson; Rosa Keller*; Wendy Wallace Kelsey; Caroline Weiss Law*; Susan McAshan*; The Rev. W. Stewart MacColl; Nancy McGregor Manne; Neal Manne; Peggy Neuhaus*; Hanni S. Orton*; Joan C. Penniman; Genevieve Peterkin*; Nancy Peterkin* Dee Dee Reilly* Mimi Robinson Rose; Gwyn W. Smith; Eleanor Tinsley*; Phyllis Van Kerrebrook*; Isabel Brown Wilson*

*deceased

today’s panelists

CHAU NGUYEN

Chau Nguyen (she/her) is a social worker, women’s advocate and storyteller. As a Licensed Master Social Worker, Chau is a trauma therapist, counseling women, children and families in private practice and in non-profit. Chau has also spent nearly a decade advocating for women and girls as a nonprofit leader and executive, and is an appointee of the Houston Women’s Commission. Prior to her servant leadership, Chau worked as a television news journalist in Houston, Atlanta, Guam and Saipan.

DR. BHAVIK KUMAR

Dr. Bhavik Kumar (he/him) is a board-certified family medicine physician, abortion provider, and medical director for Primary and Trans Care at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. Dr. Kumar is also a National Medical Spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He completed his medical training in New York and has been practicing medicine since 2015. Dr. Kumar is an outspoken advocate for abortion and trans care access in the media and in the courts.

JOANA CALDERON

Joana Calderon (she/her) is a patient advocate from Fort Worth, Texas. Joana graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Social Work Masters in Direct Practice in Mental Health. Since 2020, Joana has been advocating for access to reproductive healthcare through storytelling. Most recently, Planned Parenthood presented Joana with The Storyteller Award, for her advocacy work. She hopes to bring awareness to the barriers to abortion access individuals face in Texas and to normalize conversations around abortion.

PARENTHOOD GULF COAST

the story of versus

Our story is bigger than one fight, and we know our work is far from over. No matter what we are up against, we are up for the challenge. Together. What remains after the overturning of Roe v. Wade has been here all along and will always remain. It’s the heart of why we’re here.

Versus . A symbol of our unrelenting movement, a reminder that hope and progress will not be denied, and an inspiration for the work ahead. Versus stands for who we are. Why we’re here. What we believe in. It’s what unites us and pushes us forward, together.

Planned Parenthood remains committed to ensuring every individual’s right to manage their reproductive and sexual health, including access to abortion. Versus represents the heart of our mission while laying the groundwork for a new path forward as we continue to stand together for a better future. Together, we are meeting this moment head-on and doing everything we can to meet the needs of our patients and our communities.

In this new era, versus stands for the courage to fight for the rights that belong to us.

V stands for Versus . Until it stands for victory.

A THANK YOU TO LANGRAND

The new Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast luncheon theme, versus, was created by Langrand, an advertising and communica tions company based in Houston, Texas. Both the owner and managing director of the firm are alumnae of Planned Parenthood, and gladly volunteered the time and talent of the agency for a cause they truly believe in. We think you can see the heart and compassion they have for our mission in the video above and in this rebrand as a whole. Their work on this project was recently recognized by the American Advertising Federation with a Silver Addy Award.

ppgc board of directors

Robin O’Neil Chair

Amisha Sharma Vice Chair

Pam Reiland Treasurer

Virginia Engholm Secretary

Elizabeth Monaghan Development Committee Chair

Michele Mullin Immediate Past Chair

Neelofur Ahmad, MD

Belinda Lewis Batiste

Cathy Coleman

Mariella De Alba Ortiz

Fatima Hassan Ali

Holley Galland Haymaker, MD

Sharon Howard

Cisselon Hurd

Necole Irvin

Angela Jones, PhD

Rashmi Kudesia, MD

Kim Latimer

Ted Lee

Juliet McBride

Erin Mincberg Spiegel

Maria Montes

Swati Narayan

Michael Reeder

Lindsay Reeves

Takema Robinson

Alison Young

A body of strength. No matter if you are sitting here today or watching from home, you are part of something much, much bigger. As a woman-led creative agency, we’re proud to help bring versus to life and stand with all those who continue to fight for autonomy over our bodies, our health and our future.

luncheon committee

Neelofur R. Ahmad, M.D.

Christina Alvarez-Perry

Nory Angel

Georgina Armstrong

Bill Baldwin

Preity Bhagia

Hillary Brooke Boswell

Jim Boyd

Julie Browning

Katherine Butler

Barbara Calfee

Bettie Cartwright

Anne Chao

Lisa Coffin

Margie (Margaret) Cohen

Meryl Slipakoff Cohen

Cathy Coleman

Dee Coleman

Sandy Rowley Colt

Liz Crowell

Mary S. Dawson

Clare H. Doyle

Michol Ecklund

Theresa Einhorn

Honorable Odus E. Evbagharu

Gail Faris

Kari Findley

Karen & Buster Freedman

Ann Friedman

Karen Ostrum George

Betsy Goldstein

Lainie Gordon

Shelley Gottschalk

Michelle Hicks

Kimberly Hickson Spaw

Danielle Hunter

Sis Johnson

Sara Kelly

Wendy & Mavis Kelsey

Ann Kennedy

Jacqueline Kneese

Marilyn Knight

Peggie Kohnert

Vail Kohnert-Yount

Sandy Lessig

Anne Lewis & David Morris

Dr. Kim Lopez

Silky Joshi Malik

Nancy McGregor & Neal Manne

Laura McWilliams

Beth Merfish

Sherry & Gerald Merfish

Ginni Mithoff

Elizabeth Monaghan

Michele P. Mullin

M. Anne Murphy

Swati Narayan

Terrylin Neale

Suzanne Nimocks

Linwood Olson

John & Kathy Orton

Jil Pollock

Victoria Ramos

Pamela Reiland

Lillie Robertson

Carolyn Sabat

Emily Wolf Schaffer

Cathryn Selman

Hinda Simon

Lois Stark

Kimberly Sterling

Nicola Toubia

Karen A. Twitchell

Andrea White

Nancy L. Wilson & John A. Dickinson

Aimee Woodall

Anita Woods

Lorraine Wulfe

Alison Young & Jelani Kendrick

luncheon sponsors

SECOND CENTURY

Barbara Clark /

Janet Clark /

Virginia “Ginger” Clark /

Vivian Clark

VISIONARY

Anne & Albert Chao /

Diana Strassmann & Jeff Smisek

Joan Hohlt & Roger Wich Foundation

Nancy McGregor & Neal Manne

Lillie Robertson /

Beth Robertson / Caroll Ray

LEGACY

Melanie Gray & Mark Wawro, in honor of Elena Marks

Peggie Kohnert /

Vail Kohnert-Yount

Elena & Kenneth Marks

Sherry & Gerald Merfish

Sallie Morian

MOVEMENT MAKER

Clare Doyle /

Suzanne Nimocks /

Cathryn Selman

Elena’s Weekend Walking Group

Karen George /

Karen Shouse / Karen Twitchell

Burdine Clayton Johnson &

Christophe Venghiattis

Wendy & Mavis Kelsey

Donna Maslia / Richard Maslia /

Angie & Skip Weiland

Gwen Richard / Amber Mostyn

Gwyn Smith

CHAMPION OF CHOICE

Sally S. Alcorn

Julie & Andrew Alexander

Always Do Good Fund

Laura & Vineet Bhatia /

Lauren & Geoffrey Harrison

Barbara Burger

Linnet F. Deily

Esther Friedman

Family Foundation /

Ann & J. Kent Friedman

Susanne W. Galtney

Claire Liu Greenberg

Kim Hicks

Michelle Hicks

Sis & Hasty Johnson

Amy Kapiloff

Beth Matusoff Merfish & Daniel

Coleman

Suzan Miles

Karen & Gene Oshman /

Kim & David Sterling

George Peterkin

Kathryn Rabinow /

Gail Faris

Carolyn & Jake Sabat

Katie Sammons & Terry Lohrenz /

Trey Peacock

Sandra Shafto / Frannie Robertson

Jeri & Marc Shapiro

Angela & Mark W. Smith

Tracy F. Stein

Anita Woods & Vic Lamanuzzi

COURAGEOUS VOICE

Neelofur and Sami Ahmad

Joan Alexander

Christina Alvarez-Perry

Anita Barnes / Lennie Burke /

Beverly Robinson

Jim Boyd

Kathy Butler

Bettie Cartwright

Sandy & Sloan Colt /

Louise & Larry Glenn

Heidi Dugan

Michol Ecklund

luncheon sponsors

Theresa Einhorn & Don Yurewicz

Jenny Elkins

Karen & Buster Freedman

Friends of Swati

Rhonda Gerson /

Sheila Loewenstern /

Deedee Ostfeld / Ede Ruth Weiner

Betsy Goldstein

Paige Hagle

Caitlin Halpern

Danielle Hunter

I’ll Have What She’s Having

Jill & Dunham Jewett

Linda, Sara & Madeline Kelly

Ann Kennedy & Geoffrey Walker

Rashmi Kudesia, MD

Nicole Longnecker &

David Pesikoff

Minnie & Jhett Nelson

Robin O’Neil & Jonathan Eisen

Kathy & John Orton

Victoria Ramos

Marci Rosenberg & Ben Samuels

Betsy & Ed Schreiber

Mallory & James Shaddix

Barbara Sklar / Suzanne McCarthy

Jean van Soelen

Andrea & Bill White

Lorraine Wulfe

Nina & Michael Zilkha

ADVOCATE

Natasha Afonso /

Jennifer Strauss

Maida Asofsky /

Ann Stephens Jackson

Robert & Sharon Baker

Preity Bhagia

Heather Brown

Mary Kay Casey

CCL

Lisa Coffin / Pam Reiland

Margie Cohen & Friends

Liz & Steve Crowell

Carolyn Dorros

Emerson UU Church

Marcia Fiman /

Rebecca Luks / Emily Wolf

Schaffer

Friends of PPGC

Friends of Tiffany Cuellar Needham

Jan Greer / Rose Ann Medlin

Lee Huber

Cisselon Nichols Hurd

Leora Kahn

Marilyn Knight

Harriet Latimer /

Laura McWilliams /

Susan Morrison / Linwood Olson

Legal Media, Inc.

Sandy Lessig

Augusta Levine

Sherry Levy / Debbie Kearns /

Vicki Merwin

Silky Joshi Malik

Misty Matin / Megan Prout

Carly Milner / Ashleigh Rickertsen

Beatrice Mladenka-Fowler &

Jesse Fowler

Elizabeth Monaghan

Swati Narayan

H. Russell Pitman

Michele Pola

Robyn Rothman & John Stevenson

Sally & Bill Russ

Ellen Safier

Kimberly Hickson Spaw & David Spaw

Lois Stark

Karen & Harry Susman /

Shelley & Alex Kaplan

W.S. Bellows Construction Corp

Senator John Whitmire

Cyvia Wolff

luncheon sponsors

FIERCE FRIEND

ACLU of Texas

Betty Baer & Fred Krasny

Baker Botts LLP

Maire & David Baldwin

BAQ Social Club

Patricia & Alan Bernstein

Katie Bolt

Hillary Brooke Boswell

Julie & Logan Browning

Terri Burke

Café con Ladies

Janet Caldwell

Barbara & Richard Calfee

Johnny & Nataya Carter

Judge Kyle Carter

Meryl & Murray Cohen

Cathy Coleman

Dee Coleman

Marcia Davidoff / Joyce Sandweiss

Denise DuBard

Kari Findley

Rodi & Bob Franco

Stephanie Spicer Frey

Barbara Robins Friedman /

M. Anne Murphy

Friends of Danielle Hunter

Friends of Michele Mullin

Friends of Preity Bhagia

Anne Furse

Gibson Dunn

Lainie Gordon & David Mincberg /

Erin Mincberg Spiegel & Scott Spiegel

Katie Beth, Eliana, & Adam Gottlieb

Amy & Joseph Grinstein

Jenya Harrison

Kathy Harrison

Havins & Associates /

Michele P. Mullin

Jacqui Hecht & Wayne Dorris

Leslie Holland

Katherine Jackson

Susan Kennedy

Tammy Butler Kidd, P.C.

Jo Rosenblum King & Friends

Ashly Kirkland

Thomas & Joanne Kula

Lady Liberty Table

Suzy LaForge / Pam Reiland /

Kelley Tobin

Kathy & Randy Lake

Rebecca Lamb

Jennifer Laporte

Joy, Jeffrey & Alicia Lee

Louise Levien & Robert Eby /

Nancy Wilson & John Dickinson

Anne Lewis & David Morris

Audrey Maclean

Gabby Martinez

Jan McNeill

Lisa Mellencamp & Chuck Randall

Lauren Mintz

Ginni Mithoff

Montrose Seniors

Amy Moss

Michele P. Mullin

Kate Gunn Pagel & Garner Pagel

Linda & Stephen Paine

Frances Pengra & Ed Allday

Jil & John Pollock

Fairfax & Risher Randall

ROADwomen

Bobbi Samuels

Phyllis L. Segal

Susan & Ed Septimus

Joan Shook & Jeffry Stark

Hinda Simon

Sponge Worthy

Chandra Stone & Friends

Janice Stooksberry

luncheon sponsors

Paige & Brad Taylor

Nicola Toubia

Retta Van Auken

Angie Wiens-Talbert

Melinda Winn /

Nancy Wilson & John Dickinson

Ann Wolf

Wonder Woman Warriors

Alison Young & Jelani Kendrick

UNDERWRITER

Ursula Akselrod

Edward Allen III

Lee & Bob Ardell

Becky Schaefer Arnold

Paula Arnold

Sarah Balinskas

Kathy Berkman

Butch & Krista Bouchard

Kristy J. Bradshaw

Claire & Dick Brooks

George W. Connelly

Alison de Lima Greene

June Deadrick

Marsha Dodson

Parker Folse

Rhoda Goldberg

Gayle Goodman

Tamela & James Hamilton

Katy & Clyde Hays

Joy Horak-Brown

Darci Hubbard

Ann Johnson

Diane S. Kaplan

Ann Kaufman

Bernice C. Kaufman

Elizabeth Kidd

Kim Latimer

Elaine Loiselle & Dean Burkhardt

Layne Mason

Valerie McCarthy

Debra McLeoud & Jay Keith Sears

Kimberly Monday

Nancy Powell Moore

Barbara Morris

Jane G. Moser

Veronica Nasser

Terrylin Neale

Pamela Newberry

Betty & Stephen Newton

Brenda Peters-Chase

Eleanor Porras

Janet & Jeff Pozmantier

Brad & Amy Richards

Isabelle Schwebel

Jennifer Smith

Spotlight Style

Ellen Susman

Gayle & Steve Waldman

Kristine & Stephen Wallace

Connie Wallace

Wang Family

Paulette Wolfson

Carolina Wolk

Natalie Wommack

our vision

Planned Parenthood seeks a world in which all children are wanted and cared for, all individuals have equal rights and dignity, sexuality is expressed with honesty, equality, and responsibility, and the decision to bear children is private and voluntary.

our mission

The mission of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc. is to ensure the right and ability of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing health services, education and advocacy.

www.ppgulfcoast.org