Planned Parenthood Health Center Selected for Direct Relief Community Health Award to Close Health Care Access Disparities in Kentucky
For Immediate Release: March 17, 2022
New York, NY — Last week, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai’i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK), was selected by the humanitarian organization, Direct Relief, to receive a $50,000 grant to help expand access to sexual and reproductive health care in the Kentucky region. The announcement, which coincided with the annual celebration of International Women’s Day, is a part of Direct Relief’s annual Community Health Awards. The awards are funded by Bayer, and aligned with the company’s We’re for Her mission, which aims to ensure access to modern health care through innovation in products and services, and by investing in programs dedicated to women’s health care access, education, and awareness.
This year’s award from Direct Relief will allow PPGNHAIK to:
- Promote telehealth as an essential tool for connecting people with the health care they need through their local health centers.
- Inform young people across Kentucky about the Planned Parenthood Direct app, which enables patients to book telehealth appointments in their area and order birth control by mail.
Statement from Rebecca Gibron, CEO for Planned Parenthood Great Northwest Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK):
Everyone deserves access to essential sexual and reproductive health care, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make. For many Kentuckians across the Commonwealth, low incomes and lack of health insurance remain major barriers to accessing essential sexual and reproductive health care. And for those living in rural areas, experiencing poverty, or needing to drive long distances to health centers, access to health care can be exceptionally challenging.
This generous grant from Direct Relief will support PPGNHAIK’s efforts to increase awareness of and access to telehealth services, which is critical to providing sexual and reproductive health care in communities facing the most barriers to care. Ensuring every person can access care is how we take care of ourselves and our communities today and in the future.
Statement from Nadia Khamis, director of corporate engagement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
This grant reflects the power of working together to reach people across the U.S. with essential health care services and education, and community-based resources. Through the innovation of Direct Relief’s Maternal and Child Health team and Bayer Pharmaceuticals Women’s Healthcare team, Planned Parenthood affiliates have been able to pilot and expand transformative programs to reach patients in new ways. We are grateful for Bayer and Direct Relief’s continued support, and the positive impact they have on Planned Parenthood patients and their communities.
This week’s announcement marked the latest round of funding for women’s health care organizations through Direct Relief’s annual Community Health Awards. In 2020-2021, four providers, including PPGNHAIK and Planned Parenthood of Great Plains (PPGP) used Direct Relief grants of $40,000 each to pilot innovative programs which helped reduce transportation-related barriers to essential health care in rural areas and provide essential sex education and telehealth services to vulnerable communities like homeless people, incarcerated women, and youth. The total funds received through these Community Health Awards in 2020-2021 helped PPGNHAIK and PPGP reach 23,100 women through services, training, education, grants, and community outreach.
About Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need — without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation's largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK) is a leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. The organization operates 40 health centers in Alaska, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Western Washington and provides medical services and sexuality education for thousands of people each year. Planned Parenthood is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and relies heavily on charitable donations to ensure our patients' ability to determine their own destinies and receive the health care they need.