It’s been our tradition to start the new year off by thanking you — our Planned Parenthood supporters. You are the heart and soul of Planned Parenthood and you stand with us no matter what. Your commitment, bravery, and generosity means so much to the entire Planned Parenthood community. It’s because of you that Planned Parenthood health center doors are open today, and will remain open for years to come.

As we begin this particular New Year — and continue celebrating Planned Parenthood’s 100th anniversary — we ask you to help us thank our visionary leader, Bryan Howard. Today is Bryan’s 20th anniversary as CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona. Bryan has made it his life’s work to further Planned Parenthood’s mission and has inspired all of us to join with him to serve Arizona’s women and families.

Bryan joined us on January 2, 1997, when he was only 36 years old, after having served various roles at Planned Parenthood in Chicago since 1984. 

During his tenure, he has led the agency successfully through a merger, an economic recession, and too many political and anti-choice attacks to mention. Today, thanks in large part to Bryan’s steady leadership, Planned Parenthood Arizona is resilient and strong, ready to weather the next storm that is just around the corner.

As we mark this milestone with Bryan, we need to be especially strong, because we are facing the most dangerous threat we have ever faced to protect the thousands of patients who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers in Arizona. This month, we expect anti-women’s health members in Congress to advance a bill that would block patients from seeking care at Planned Parenthood. And if such a defunding bill makes it onto the president-elect’s desk, we have every reason to believe he will sign it.

Please consider making a gift to Planned Parenthood to help Bryan and the rest of his PPAZ team keep our doors open. We also want to invite you to help us recognize Bryan by sharing how Bryan, or Planned Parenthood, has touched your life during the past 20 years. We will compile your stories to illustrate the impact Planned Parenthood is making in our community.

Every day, people count on Bryan and Planned Parenthood to provide health care and defend their rights. Our mission won’t change, we’ll need every bit of strength we can get, and we can’t do it without you.

We know we speak for everyone at Planned Parenthood when we say how grateful we are for all of our supporters and our amazing staff. Thank you so much for always standing up when we need you, and best wishes in the New Year.

Warm regards,

Vicki King, 1996 Board Chair
Linda Platt Ramo, 1997 Board Chair
John S. Martinson, 1998 Board Chair
Herb Jackson, 1999 Board Chair
Doug Pilcher, 2000 Board Chair
Leon Silver, 2001-2002 Board Chair
Shawn Dralle, 2003-2004 Board Chair
Rich Kasper, 2005-2006 Board Chair
Candace Lew, 2007-2008 Board Chair
Miles Green, 2009-2011 Board Chair
Emily Chang, 2011-2013 Board Chair
Joel Feinman, 2014-2015 Board Chair
Kerry Blume, 2016-2017 Board Chair