PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RECEIVES GRANT FROM NEAR & FAR AID

$22,500 grant supports underserved patients and lays foundation for lasting change in Bridgeport, Conn.

(New Haven, Conn.) — Last month, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) received grant funding from Near & Far Aid of Fairfield, Conn., an all-volunteer fundraising and fund granting organization dedicated to eliminating the causes and effects of poverty in Fairfield County.

The $22,500 grant will provide underserved patients affordable, accessible reproductive health care services at the PPSNE health center in Bridgeport, Conn.

“We are truly honored to receive support from such a wonderful philanthropic organization,” said Judy Tabar President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “We stand with and support the efforts of Near & Far Aid, and all organizations that continue to advocate for and support expanded access to reproductive health care services.”

Approximately 70 percent of the patients served by the Bridgeport health center are low-income women, men and young people from the Bridgeport, Fairfield, Huntington, Milford, Norwalk, Stratford and Trumbull communities. PPSNE knows firsthand that the underserved members of these communities face many barriers accessing health care. PPSNE provides health care and education to empower community members to stay healthy and achieve their health goals.

PPSNE understands the complex and diverse needs of patients in the community and offers a sliding fee scale, evening and weekend hours, walk-in appointments, medical interpretation, education for teens and special exam tables for women with disabilities at the Bridgeport health center. The $22,500 grant was awarded to the PPSNE Bridgeport Fund for Access program supporting its efforts to serve patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

“We take great pride in the work we do. We accomplish our mission by finding and funding programs that provide life’s most basic necessities,” said Bitsy Higgins President of Near & Far Aid. “Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of so many women, men and children living in poverty.”

Near & Far Aid has a 60-year history in Fairfield County, and since 2000, has committed over $13 million to improve the lives of those suffering the effects of poverty. In April, Near & Far Aid was bestowed the PPSNE Community Impact Award at the Annual Spring Luncheon in Stamford, Conn. This was the first year the award was given not just to an individual, but to an entire organization.

The PPSNE Bridgeport Fund for Access program addresses the immediate needs of underserved patients and lays the foundation for lasting change in the community. The PPSNE Bridgeport Health Center provides a full range of reproductive health services to low-income women, such as all FDA-approved birth control methods, STD/STI testing, well-woman exams, HIV testing and counseling, cancer screenings and treatment of abnormal cervical conditions.

Planned Parenthood is a trusted, local resource for convenient and confidential services for women, men, and young people. PPSNE has a sliding fee scale based on one’s income and participates in many insurance plans.

To learn more about PPSNE, call (203) 865-5158 or visit ppsne.org.

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Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) is one of the region’s largest providers of family planning and reproductive health care services. Since 1923, PPSNE has evolved into an organization with 18 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island, delivering care to over 70,000 patients annually, and 90 percent of the services provided are preventive.