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Boone Family, Harold Simmons foundations give $2 million to Planned Parenthood
By Holly Haber [email protected]
Published:

More women will have access to long-term birth control and health screenings at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, thanks to a $2 million donation from Boone Family Foundation and Harold Simmons Foundation.

Each organization gave the agency $1 million to fund long-acting reversible birth control, such as IUDs, for disadvantaged women in Dallas-Fort Worth.

The three-year endowment also supports testing for sexually transmitted diseases. Launching in September, the program is expected to serve 1,000 women each year at Planned Parenthood health centers in Addison, Arlington, Bedford, Cedar Hill, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Mesquite and Plano.

“For us, it’s really just about access to the best health care for all women in Dallas,” Betsy Healy, Harold Simmons Foundation grants director, said.”We felt this was an option women should have. It’s about removing the cost barrier.”

Under the leadership of sisters Lisa K. Simmons and Serena Simmons Connelly, the Harold Simmons Foundation has been a consistent, generous supporter of health care for women and children. In 2007, it committed $50 million to fund construction of the Women & Infants Specialty Health facility at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Civic leader Cecilia Boone, board member of her family foundation, is a former chair of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of North Texas Action Fund, Dallas Women’s Foundation and Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas. Boone established the Boone Family Foundation with her husband, Garrett, co-founder of The Container Store.

“Planned Parenthood is a trusted provider of health care in our communities, and we’re proud to partner with Planned Parenthood for such a transformational program,” Boone said. “Each time a Texas woman has expanded access to health care and education, regardless of her ZIP code, income or insurance status, it is a win for public health and for our communities.”

Ken Lambrecht, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, said, “We are delighted that these donations will enable Planned Parenthood’s health centers to continue to reduce barriers to health care, especially for uninsured and low-income women, by providing essential health care and birth control to women throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex”