This year, Planned Parenthood of New York City turns 100 years old. With 240 visits a day and over 87,000 visits a year, we are proud to be one of the city's largest and most trusted sexual and reproductive health care providers.
In 1916, we started as a small clinic in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Today we have five health centers in all five boroughs. We also have robust education and training programs that bring essential information and resources to young people, parents, and professionals citywide, and advocate for policies to make reproductive health care more accessible and to support the communities we serve.
To celebrate our enduring legacy in New York City, PPNYC has launched Care That Counts, a new campaign that spotlights the stories of the PPNYC community, from activists and volunteers to patients and staff. Starting on July 9, we're publishing 1 story each day until we reach 100 stories on October 16th--the day we turn 100 years old.
Already 12 days into our campaign, below are snippets from some of the stories we've published on the Care That Counts page. Beyond the numbers of people we serve, these stories show just how much PPNYC's care really does count in individual lives:
"There were so many girls in my school that didn't feel comfortable telling their partners that they weren't ready for sex, and would just go with the flow because they didn't feel powerful enough to say no. The Teen Advocate program helped me understand that my voice counts and if I don't feel comfortable doing something, to stop right there."
"I have always been treated like a human being at PPNYC. I always walk away feeling that I was listened to, that my needs were met and that I received good care. Maybe that doesn't seem like much but in a time when healthcare seems a luxury, it feels good to know that there is a community of practitioners who are truly looking out for me."
"I volunteer as a health center escort for Planned Parenthood of New York City. I started volunteering because no one should ever have to feel threatened or bullied just for taking charge of their own future, and I want to be a supportive, welcoming face during what could be a terribly vulnerable moment. I volunteer to say thanks and to pay it forward."
"In the summer of 2014 my birth control failed. I had been on the Depo-Provera shot for over two years with no problem until I found out I was pregnant in between them. I want to be a mother someday but at 21 years old, I was not ready. I want women to know that at PPNYC, we can make our own decisions about our body and not feel like we're going to get judged."
"I've been practicing for 20 years. I've delivered over 3,000 babies." Mariella is now proud to provide care at PPNYC.
To see more stories, visit us at www.ppnyc.org/carethatcounts.
We are honored to have been able to serve New Yorkers for 100 years, and with every year that passes, we try to better serve New Yorkers by continually adding new services and supporting our communities. This summer, we'll begin offering PrEP to individuals at high risk of HIV. In the fall, we'll be offering hormone therapy to transgender individuals. And as our growth clearly indicates, we are here to stay.
At PPNYC, we value the whole person. We offer care to everyone who comes through our doors, regardless of age, background, immigration status, or ability to pay. We offer care to all New Yorkers--no matter what. And we thank New York City for its abounding support.
Since the launch of our Care that Counts campaign, we've already heard from many of you, sharing your amazing stories. The overwhelmingly positive responses we've received show just how essential our quality reproductive and sexual health services are to our community. If you have ever been to our health centers or volunteered with our team, we invite you to reach out to us at mystory@ppnyc.org and tell us what our care has meant to you.
To continue to read the stories of New Yorkers whose lives have been touched by PPNYC, follow us on www.ppnyc.org/carethatcounts and @PPNYCAction as we publish new stories every day until we turn 100 years old.