PPSNE Celebrates the Houghton Hepburn Legacy At Their Annual Autumn Extravaganza

Fundraiser benefits the 70,000 women, men and teens that who receive preventative and reproductive health care in CT and RI

NEW HAVEN, CT - October 16, 2011 – On Thursday, October 27, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) will be joined by Katharine Houghton, granddaughter of Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn, at their Autumn Extravaganza in order to raise $90,000 to support the 70,000 women, men and teens who will receive care this year at one of the nineteen PPSNE health centers across CT and RI. The event includes a silent auction of several items once belonging to Katharine Hepburn as well as a presentation by Katharine Houghton.

The Autumn Extravaganza will honor the Houghton-Hepburn Legacy and celebrate the critical work of Planned Parenthood in our community. Katharine Houghton Hepburn, mother of screen legend Katharine Hepburn, originally formed the Connecticut Birth Control League after hearing Margaret Sanger speak in 1916. She continued to work closely with Sanger and her efforts contributed to the formation of Planned Parenthood in Connecticut. 

"My grandmother and my aunt would be very pleased to know that their fight for women’s rights continues at PPSNE,” said Katharine Houghton. “Often we neglect our pioneers, so I am extremely grateful and proud to be part of an event which honors them,” added Houghton.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England is the state’s largest provider of family planning and reproductive health care services, and 90 percent of the services provided are preventive including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, prevention and treatment of STDs, annual exams and much more. PPSNE also provides educational programming to youth, young adults and parents reaching almost 10,000 individuals a year. For over 85 years, Planned Parenthood has provided health care and family planning services to women and men in Connecticut. One in five American women have received care from a Planned Parenthood health center during her lifetime.

The Autumn Extravaganza will be held at Anthony’s Ocean View, 460 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, 5:30pm – 9:30pm and will be hosted by WTNH’s Anchor, Ann Nyberg.

“As a founding member of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut and the mother of three daughters, I am truly honored to help further the work of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. The Hepburn women were ahead of their time and I am pleased to help keep their mission moving ahead for generations to come,” said Ann Nyberg.

Tickets for the event are $125. Register for the event at http://giving.ppsne.org/autumn2011 or contact Laurie Diorio, Development Associate, Special Events, at [email protected] or 203.865.5158 for further information regarding registration or sponsorship opportunities. Community members are also invited to participate in the online silent auction at www.biddingforgood.com/ppsne to participate which will conclude at the event and also includes vacation destinations, electronics, and fine dining.