NEW YORK — Planned Parenthood Federation of America announced that MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated a $275 million to its national office and 21 Planned Parenthood affiliates. This represents the largest gift from a single donor in Planned Parenthood’s history. Planned Parenthood is a trusted provider of equitable sexual and reproductive health services whose network of more than 600 health centers reaches deep into communities across the country. This generous gift also comes at a time when access to sexual and reproductive health care is under attack like never before, especially access to abortion.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, PPFA:
“We are incredibly grateful for Ms. Scott’s extraordinary philanthropic investment in Planned Parenthood, as a critical part of the public health infrastructure. There is no question that we are living through a crisis for sexual and reproductive health and rights in this country. As we face the most serious attacks on access to reproductive health care that we’ve seen in a generation, we know this moment requires us to be innovative and to double down on our efforts to ensure everyone has equitable access to health care, including abortion.
“This funding will support our efforts to advance health equity by eliminating racial and structural barriers for our patients in the communities where Planned Parenthood works. We know Black women experience disproportionately higher rates of maternal mortality, STIs, and will be most hurt by the loss of abortion access in the South and Midwest. By starting with the Black health experience in partnership with local communities, we see this as an opportunity to not only improve health outcomes for Black patients, but to transform how all patients, especially those of color and those in rural and low income communities, experience our health care, education, and organizing efforts. In future years, I hope this is what it means to Be Seen.”
Statement from Melaney Linton, chair, Planned Parenthood Affiliate Chief Executive Council (ACEC) and president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC):
“We are humbled by Ms. Scott’s support of Planned Parenthood’s work, our expertise, our deep and trusted connections with communities, and the important role we play in the public health and sexual and reproductive health care infrastructure. This gift is a testament to the very strong health care network that the Planned Parenthood federation and its affiliate health care network provides to its patients all over the country.”
2021 was the worst year for abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973; more than 100 abortion restrictions were enacted across the country and already in 2022, more than 300 abortion restrictions have been introduced across 41 states. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court also turned its back on our long-established constitutional rights, allowing the Texas abortion ban to stand for more than six months, and is considering a Mississippi abortion ban that could overturn Roe by this summer. Similarly, we are seeing attacks on sex education and access to birth control, which could limit access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care.
At such a critical time for reproductive health and rights, this investment and expression of confidence in Planned Parenthood will help us to be as strong as we can be to meet the moment to ensure that we continue to provide the equitable, expert, and compassionate health care that patients expect in our health centers.
