Tickets on sale for ‘Choice Affair Luncheon’
In honor of the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Wednesday, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida is hosting a luncheon next week in Fort Myers and tickets are currently on sale.
The Lee County Choice Affair Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Lexington Country Club. The guest speaker is Jim Nathan, president and CEO of the Lee Memorial Health System.
“We usually have these luncheons in order to celebrate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade,” Christina Fraser, a spokeswoman with Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, said.
Luncheons are also planned in Manatee County and Hillsborough County.
“We celebrate Planned Parenthood,” she said of the event. “It is also a fundraiser for us.”
Proceeds from the luncheons benefit the agency’s prevention education programs.
“Combined, we can raise about $50,000,” Fraser said.
According to officials, Nathan is a national keynote speaker on many health care topics, including the history of health care from a social, economic and political perspective, health care reform and creative funding for medically uninsured population.
He has testified before the U.S. Senate on competition and antitrust issues related to health care delivery and financing.
“He’ll be discussing some of the different items regarding health care reform and how it affects the community,” she said.
During the luncheon, Judy Goldenberg and Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, will also be recognized for their service to the agency.
Zdravecky has provided 20 years of leadership to the regional group, while Goldenberg is being honored for her continuous support of Planned Parenthood in Florida and in Minnesota.
“It’s a really nice luncheon with a lot of our supporters,” Fraser said.
The luncheon will also feature raffle prizes, with tickets available at the event.
Tickets cost $60 per person and can be purchased online or by phone. Tickets are available online at: www.myplannedparenthood.org through Sunday, or until 10 a.m. Monday at (941) 365-3913, ext. 1124.
“There are tickets still available,” she said Thursday.
“We usually have just over 100 guests for this event,” Fraser added.
Officials encouraged the public to attend.
“It’d be great for them to come out and join like-minded people and have a wonderful lunch and enjoy some great speakers,” she said.
Fraser added that Roe v. Wade is an important case to recognize and celebrate.
“To remember that anniversary and remember why we don’t want to go back there,” she said.
The Lexington Country Club is at 16257 Willowcrest Way in Fort Myers.
For more information, visit online at: www.myplannedparenthood.org.