TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024
A LETTER FROM OUR CO-CHAIRS
Dear Friends,
We are so grateful to each of you for supporting this year’s New Orleans Fall Celebration and for standing with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in the fight for reproductive freedom. Both of us have witnessed firsthand the impact Planned Parenthood has had on our community, and it is heartening to see this community return the support.
We hope this evening of reflection, celebration, and camaraderie brings you inspiration and a sense of unity as we ensure every Louisianian has access to the high-quality health care they need and deserve – no matter what.
For 40 years now, Planned Parenthood has been on the frontlines of the fight for compassionate, inclusive health care and education in Louisiana. Your support tonight helps ensure PPGC’s mission continues here for the next 40 years and beyond. Thank you all for joining us, and a special thank you to our incredible committees and sponsors who made this evening possible.
Katherine Bickford
2024 Co-Chair 2024 Co-Chair
40 YEARS MOVING
This year, Planned Parenthood celebrates 40 years of caring, educating, and advocating for our Louisiana community. Our theme, “40 Years Moving Forward,” honors our past and charts a course for our future. Over four decades, Planned Parenthood has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of our community, all thanks to the unwavering support of advocates like you.
As we reflect on a remarkable journey, we recognize the strides we’ve made in advancing reproductive health and rights while acknowledging the relentless political opposition we still face. With each passing year, we grow stronger and more committed to our mission.
Moving forward, we are guided by the lessons of the past and fueled by the vision of a future where everyone can access the health care they need and make informed choices about their bodies and lives. With optimism and resilience, we move forward together toward a brighter, more equitable future for all.
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM
WELCOME
Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran and Katherine Bickford
2024 New Orleans Fall Celebration Co-Chairs
SECOND CENTURY AWARD PRESENTATION: HONORING CECILE RICHARDS
Melaney A. Linton
President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
FIRESIDE CHAT: AN INTIMATE DISCUSSION WITH LOUISIANA LEADERS
Nancy Davis
Patient Storyteller & Reproductive Health Advocate
Kaitlyn Joshua
Patient Storyteller & Reproductive Health Advocate
Moderator: Lauren Collins Peterson
Author & Speechwriter
40 YEARS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD: AFFILIATE UPDATE
Petrice Sams-Abiodun, PhD
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE
Sunni Patterson Poet
FORWARD TO THE FUTURE: CLOSING REMARKS
Isabella Parise and Amber Bonner
Planned Parenthood Young Leaders
SECOND CENTURY AWARD
Cecile Richards is a lifelong activist for women’s rights and economic justice. She is a co-chair of American Bridge 21st Century and the co-founder of Charley, a chatbot that provides information about abortion options in every zip code in the United States. She is also the author of The New York Times bestseller “Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead.”
As president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund for 12 years, Cecile helped expand access to reproductive health care, including abortion. She led the organization into its second century, innovating to help patients get the care they need through the technology they use every day, expanding access to preventive care and no-copay birth control under the Affordable Care Act, and investing in a new generation of activists and leaders. With Cecile at the helm, Planned Parenthood successfully defeated politically motivated attempts to block millions of women, men, and young people from care and grew their supporter base from 2.5 million people to nearly 12 million.
After beginning her career as a labor organizer working with women earning the minimum wage, she went on to start grassroots organizations including the Texas Freedom Network and America Votes and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. In 2019, she co-founded Supermajority, an organization dedicated to making women the most revered and respected voting bloc in the country. She was twice named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS
SECOND CENTURY AWARD: Sallie Morian (2024); The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge (2024); Tamara Kreinin (2023); Elena Marks (2023); PPGC Hand Holders (2022); PPGC Frontline Health Care Staff (2021); Lillie Robertson, Beth Robertson, & Cullen Geiselman (2020); Melanie Gray (2019); The Clayton Family (2018)
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 Sr. 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
TONIGHT’S PANELISTS
NANCY DAVIS
Nancy Davis is a passionate advocate for reproductive justice and maternal health whose activism is driven by her personal experiences and a deep commitment to social change. A Louisiana native and proud mom, daughter, and fiancée, Nancy began her journey into advocacy after being denied lifesaving health care, which inspired her to speak out against systemic inequities, particularly for Black women. She has since become a leading voice in the fight for reproductive rights, organizing rallies and testifying in legislative hearings. Nancy has engaged with influential figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden.
As the founder of the Nancy Davis Foundation, Nancy is committed to bridging gaps in reproductive health care and championing the rights of individuals across Louisiana. Nancy also serves on the National Leadership Council for Dignity Grows, combating period poverty. Her advocacy has earned her numerous accolades, including the RBG Fierce Advocacy on Behalf of Women Award presented by Lift Louisiana, the 2024 Foundation for Louisiana Legacies That Live On Award, and, most recently, the Advocacy Award from The Brigid Alliance.
KAITLYN JOSHUA
Kaitlyn Joshua is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is married to Landon Joshua and is mother to Lauryn and Liam. She has worked in the environmental justice (Earthworks) and voting rights space (the Power Coalition), with a focus on restoring the rights of formerly incarcerated individuals in Louisiana. In the fall of 2022, Kaitlyn and her husband found themselves trying to navigate a health care crisis in a post-Roe Louisiana when Kaitlyn was denied care at two hospitals in her area while experiencing a miscarriage at 11 weeks pregnant. Finally, she was seen by a third hospital, where it was confirmed she was indeed having a miscarriage but would not be able to get the care she deserved because of the state’s abortion ban. Using her experience in organizing and advocacy, Kaitlyn took it upon herself to speak out and shed light on the issues of abortion access through the lens of Black maternal health. Now, she works with abortion advocacy organizations and campaigns to highlight the need for reproductive justice in the Deep South. Kaitlyn recently received Young, Gifted and Green’s 40 Under 40 Award for Black maternal health and Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year Award.
MODERATOR: LAUREN COLLINS PETERSON
Lauren is a writer, political strategist, and the co-author of The New York Times bestseller “Make Trouble” with Cecile Richards. She worked on the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and served as senior writer and advisor at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She is currently writing a book about LGBTQ+ family building, “This Will All Be Worth It,” to be published in 2025. She lives in Brooklyn with her wife, Liz, and their son, Remy.
PPGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pam Reiland, Chair
Cathy Coleman, Vice Chair
Victoria Ramos, Treasurer
Juliet McBride, Secretary
Lindsay Reeves, Development Committee Chair
Robin O’Neil, Immediate Past Chair
Belinda Lewis Batiste
Lisa Coffin
Mariella De Alba Ortiz
Tiffany Echevarria
EVENT COMMITTEE
Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran, Co-Chair
Katherine Bickford, Co-Chair
Jane Bertrand
Marie Cahn
Carlie Cintrón
Yvonne Garrett
Michele Goldfarb
Lindsay Reeves
Micah Fincher
Fatima Hassan Ali
Angela Jones
Rashmi Kudesia, MD
Verniss McFarland
Swati Narayan
Michael Reeder
Takema Robinson
Erin Mincberg Spiegel
Rochelle Tafolla
Swati Shah
Melanie Sheen
Glenda Spears
Pamela Steeg
Lorraine Thien
Linda Usdin
Danielle Wright
MOTHER-CHILD HOST COMMITTEE
Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran & Katherine Bickford
2024 Event Co-Chairs
Cecile Richards & Hannah Adams
2024 Honorary Co-Chairs
Nancy Aronson & Beth Lavin
Maggie Baccinelli & Ruby Mendis
Judy Barrasso & Ashley Barriere & Jennifer Barriere
Jane Bertrand and Katherine Bertrand
Jane Billings & Taylor Billings
Susan Cooper & Kelly Pickett & Brooke Pickett
Joia Crear-Perry, MD & Jade Below
Elizabeth Cropp & Isabelle Cropp
Katie Darling & Remy Darling-Huntington
Evelyn Odoms & Alanah Odoms & Élan Jolie Hebert
Aimee Farnet & Sara Siegel
Ouida Forsyth & Britain Forsyth
Susan Good & Caroline Good
Kendra Hensen & Kasmine Hensen
Susan Hess & Audrey Hess
Helaine Higgins Benjamin & Mary Beth Benjamin
Ellen Kempner & Emily Sucherman
Ruth Kullman & Read Kullman & Dr. Ginny Kullman
Annie LaRock & Sarah LaRock
Cielo Monrose & Marisol Getchel
Naomi Orlansky & Shana Orlansky & Blair Orlansky
Pearlia Thomas & Latasha Branscomb
Ozrenka Popovic & Misa Eiritz
Katie Rafferty & Barkley Rafferty
Gwendolyn Redman & Megan Redman
Dr. Alisha Reed & Morris Reed, III
Timolynn Sams & Jaxon Sumter
Petrice Sams-Abiodun & Oluremi Abiodun
Pamela Steeg & Merrill Steeg
Jackie Tate & Zakkiya Tate
Ann Thompson & Siobhan Thompson
Linda Usdin & Anya Bingler & Josie Bingler
Julie Wise Oreck & Sophie Oreck
Beverly Wright & Danielle Wright
Jayne Weiss, MD & Alana Weiss-Nydorf
Elly Zakris & Arielle Zakris
EVENT SPONSORS
Audubon Fertility
Anonymous
Nancy J. Aronson & Virginia Besthoff
Barbara Arras
Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran
Judy Barrasso & Brent Barriere
Helaine & Mary Beth Benjamin
Jane Bertrand
Jane Besthoff Steiner
Taylor & Jane Billings
Steven Bingler & Dr. Linda Usdin
Marie Cahn
Rosalind Cook
Susan Cooper
Robin & Bruce Crutcher
Angela Cryer
Annette Cumming
Holley Pavy DeBlois & John M.
DeBlois Foundation at Jewish
Endowment Foundation of Louisiana
Maria Elliott & Michael Kuhn
Jennifer Fallon
Aimee Farnet Siegel
Jessica Fass
Fierce Advocacy Fund & Ellen Solms
Micah Fincher
Diana Fisher
Ouida Forsyth
Laurie & Jason Frank
Allison Freeman
Yvonne Garrett
Marilyn McConnell & Jody Gates
Kendall Genre
Cathy Glaser
Melissa & Joey Glass
Michele Goldfarb
Susan Good
Caroline & Jeff Good
Seth Harris & Julie Schwam Harris
Holley Haymaker
Shannon & Eric Holtzman
Virginia Horner
Sarah Hunter
Jeanette Jaffe
Lisa Keleher
Rosalind Hinton & Tamara Kreinin
Susan Lizbeth Krinsky
Ruth Kullman
Suzy Lamore
Sally & James Lapeyre
Anne K. LaRock
Gay LeBreton
Belinda Lewis Batiste
Katia Lindor
Greg Lucas
Sallye Marcus & Bill Kaufman
Melissa Mason Gordon
Emilee Masters
Elizabeth & Willy Monaghan
Tracey Moore
Helena Moreno
Paige Morrison
Leann Moses
Michele P. Mullin
Margaret Neuse
Kimberly O’Brien
Julie Oreck
Larry & Naomi Orlansky
Kim Page
Deborah Peters
John Pojman
Felicia Rabito
Lindsay Reeves
Pam Reiland
Stephen & Sandy Rosenthal
Dionne Rousseau & John Pojman
Madalyn Schenk
Swati Shah
Melanie Sheen
Jane Sizeler
Pamela & Robert Steeg
Joanna Sternberg
Lorraine Thien
Kim Tubre
Kim Tuleu
Melanee & Steve Usdin
Priya Velu
Audrey Wascome
Jayne Weiss
Danielle Wright
Janice C. Taylor
Margaret Neuse
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 is to ensure the right and ability of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing health services, education, and advocacy.