Celebrating 50 years of Choice: Planned Parenthood Toronto Hosts Fundraiser on International Women's Day Thursday March 8, 2012

TORONTO, March 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Planned Parenthood Toronto is celebrating its 50^th anniversary with a fundraiser on March 8^th at the Ramada Plaza - Ballroom, 300 Jarvis Street at 7:00 pm.  Hosted by Cynthia Loyst of CP24, this fun and entertaining evening will feature interviews with local celebrities who will discuss how the sexual and reproductive rights movement has influenced their lives and work.

Opening Remarks given by Councillor Adam Vaughan and MPP Rosario Marchese

Interviewees:

• El Farouk Khaki - lawyer and human rights activist
• Troy Jackson - musician
• Carlyle Jansen - sex educator, founder of Good For Her sex shop
• Sasha Van Bon Bon - sex columnist, performer
• Brenda Cossman - professor, lawyer, and media commentator
• Dr. Robin Milhausen - professor, sex educator, and talk show host
• Dr. Miriam Kaufman - professor, author, and physician
• Susan Swan - novelist, journalist and activist

Tickets are $25 and available on line www.ppt.on.ca or at the door.  There will be light refreshments, a silent auction and a showcase of the agency's history and information on current programs and services.

Planned Parenthood Toronto is a community-based, pro-choice agency that provides programs and services promoting healthy sexuality, reproductive health and informed decision-making to youth (aged 13-29) and women in the City of Toronto.

Established in 1961, Planned Parenthood Toronto was founded by family planning pioneers George and Barbara Cadbury. Its 50 year history is one of many firsts, including the first successful campaign to legalize the sale of contraceptives in Canada and the first sexuality education phone line for teens.

"50 years later the services Planned Parenthood Toronto provides continue to be relevant and necessary," said Sarah Hobbs-Blyth, Executive Director. "Last year we had over 10,000 client visits in our youth-serving clinic, more than 3,700 youth and women received sexual health education and programming and over 80,000 teens visited our sexual health education website.  This fundraiser will directly impact the youth and women that need PPT's services."

For more information about Planned Parenthood Toronto or to set-up an interview with Sarah Hobbs-Blyth, Executive Director, please contact Dianna Karapalevski at: 416.961.0113 ext. 124 or [email protected]