MISSION
STATEMENT
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona (PPAA) is Planned Parenthood’s advocacy arm in Arizona and the state’s largest nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care. PPAA is fighting for every person’s freedom and right to make reproductive choices, enjoy sexual health and wellbeing, and build healthy, strong families by educating voters, public officials, and candidates for public office.
Charlene Mendoza
Chair
Ada Martin
Dr. Cadey Harrel
Emily Beach
Hayley Miller
Jaynie Parrish
Kali Andrews
Luz Espinoza
Yesenia Gamez, J.D.
Letter From Leadership
Dear Champions,
As we reflect on the past year, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude to be in this movement, fighting this fight, with all of you. We are grateful you proudly said you would Fight for Planned Parenthood, as our mission came under multiple attacks this last year from our state legislature and the anti-abortion extremists that have held the majority for far too long. The following report highlights our successes of the last year. It showed us that even through the hardships and challenges, we have a lot to celebrate. Our endorsed candidates, including Attorney General Kris Mayes and Governor Katie Hobbs, have continued to champion reproductive rights across the state. We built a powerful coalition that registered millions of voters and established the Arizona for Abortion Access Act, which is busy gathering signatures ahead of a July deadline to prepare for the vote in November. This act will finally ensure abortion access in our state constitution to any pregnant people who need it. Our work last year led us to this historic moment where we are building momentum toward 2024 and a critical election.
We hope you will enjoy reading this report with stories from our organizers, our incredible generational donors who support us even after they depart this earth, and a recap of our first ever Fight For All Luncheon. Thank you for your tireless contributions of funding and time to ensure access remains in Arizona, we can’t do this without you!
In this together,
Charlene Mendoza PPAZ Chair
April Donovan Interim CEO
Fight for All!
On October 12, we welcomed 500 of our closest supporters, advocates and volunteers together to loudly say “I fight for Planned Parenthood” at our Fight For all Luncheon. The event was a tremendous success, raising $100,000 and we presented the healthcare hero award to Dr. Candace Lew, longtime PP supporter and Chair of the Arizona for Abortion Access Act. The event featured the incredible Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson, who left the audience with one tremendously powerful word: HOPE. Hope for freedom, hope for our rights back! Please join us at an upcoming event, we’d love to see you there!
External Affairs
Arizona for Abortion Access
Since 2009, abortion and reproductive freedom has been under attack at the Arizona Legislature, with more than 40 restrictions passed since then. Since Roe was overturned, states have been given more rights to regulate abortions and many have created tenuous environments for their residents, including in Arizona. Given the circumstances: a continuing hostile legislature and abortion rights in the courts, PPAA is proud to join as a founding partner of Arizona for Abortion Access (AAA), the citizen initiative ballot committee to enshrine the right to abortion in Arizona’s constitution. Launched in September 2023, AAA has already gathered more than 250,000 signatures of the 389,930 valid signatures needed to get the Arizona Abortion Access Act on the 2024 ballot. AAA expects to turn in more than double the needed signatures by the July 3, 2024 deadline.
Election Highlights and Future
In 2022, we lost Roe and got Dobbs. In Arizona, that meant creating chaos between
enacting the 15-week ban and reenacting the 1864 near-total ban on abortion. The commotion caused was intentional and in very real, personal terms – downright cruel.
In 2023, we showed the resilience that comes from being faced with adversity and
that even when abortion is banned, abortion is necessary. In addition to celebrating
our resilience in 2023, we fought back more than a dozen bills attacking sexual
and reproductive healthcare and freedom, as our opponents never tire to smear disinformation and attempt to make it statute. In 2024, Arizona will feel like the epicenter
of American politics and a vital piece of our democracy as races in our state will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as control of the Arizona legislature, and more - it will all rest on the shoulders of Arizona voters. Luckily, PPAA is part of amazing and intersectional coalitions working to educate voters about what’s at stake and what’s on the ballot.
Arizona for Abortion Access Act
Interview with
Chris Love
Former Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona board member, attorney and abortion rights advocate Chris Love has stepped up to lead this effort, putting reproductive freedom on the ballot in November 2024. She, along with the other partners, has been organizing and mobilizing signature gatherers and voters to get prepared for the fight of our lifetime.
“We are counting on our folks who are mad as hell about what’s happening to show up for our issue regardless of who else or what else is on the ballot.”
–––– Chris Love
AAA FAQ
What is it?
The measure we are introducing amends the Arizona constitution to include the freedom for a person to make their own decision on abortion. This is a deeply personal decision that most Arizonans believe should be made without interference from the government.
Why now?
The freedom to make our own decisions about abortion was taken away by the Supreme Court in 2022. However, a majority of Arizonans support the right for people to make their own decisions about healthcare, including abortion — and to make those decisions without government interference. We believe that the people of Arizona should decide this question by voting in November 2024.
When does the campaign have to turn in signatures?
The deadline to submit signatures is July 3rd, 2024.
How many signatures do you have to turn in?
383,923 valid signatures.
How does this ballot measure work?
Our measure amends the Arizona constitution to include the right for a person to make their own decision on abortion. This is a deeply personal decision that most Arizonans believe should be made without interference from the government.
How much will this campaign cost? Who is going to pay for it?
Arizona for Abortion Access has been building towards a successful campaign with the understanding that it will be a multi-million dollar effort. We are confident in our grassroots fundraising effort, which will be critical to our campaign.
How can I get involved and make sure we win in November?
Partnership Highlights
Thank you to our partners in this effort.
ACLU of Arizona, Affirm, Reproductive Freedom for All, Healthcare Rising, and many others.
Statewide Impact
Event highlights
Dobbs Event
In June of 2023, PPAZ hosted an event to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, giving states the right to ban abortion. The dedication and resilience of the entire PPAZ community and partner organizations have been truly remarkable. Despite the obstacles, we continue to show up through thick and thin to provide essential health care, education, and advocacy, ensuring our community receives the care and support they need and deserve. Your compassion, expertise, and tireless efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of countless people who rely on Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.
PRIDE
The organizing team and our incredible volunteers were proud to represent PPAA at Flagstaff Pride in the Pines and Phoenix Pride last year. Each event we attended allowed us to reconnect with our community and volunteers.
Patsy Waterfall
Fund for Advocacy
Planned Parenthood celebrates the incredible life of decades long supporter, board member and fierce advocate, Patsy Waterfall, who passed on March 16, 2023. Many will remember the wonderful potlucks she hosted for Planned Parenthood volunteers for decades, but they’ll also remember her steadfast and passionate advocacy for our mission. After her passing, her longtime partner, Dan Dobbs, and children, Karen Waterfall, Greg Waterfall and Julia Waterfall- Kanter, established the Patsy Waterfall Fund for Advocacy. The fund will provide such needed resources for our future work securing reproductive freedom for all within Arizona. We are very grateful for her many contributions to our mission, both during her time in Tucson and beyond.
