WRRAP Raises $40,000 at Sold Out Fundraiser 'An Evening With Gloria Steinem'

The Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP) honored Gloria Steinem, the world renowned feminist activist, writer, lecturer and founder of Ms. Magazine and New York Magazine, at a Sold Out fundraising event for WRRAP, entitled "An Evening With Gloria Steinem," held on Tuesday evening, March 16, 2010 at the home of Eric Shore and Fred Paul in Beverly Hills, CA.

Joyce Schorr, President of WRRAP and a resident of Sherman Oaks, CA, said: "WRRAP started 19 years ago in 1991. Our event this year, 'An Evening With Gloria Steinem' was Sold Out. 225 people were in attendance. WRRAP raised $40,000 this year. Money raised at this event will help low-income women of all ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds who are unable to pay for either emergency contraception or a safe and legal abortion. The money WRRAP raises is never asked to be repaid. Ninety-five cents of every dollar we raise assists the women who need it. We do not judge the woman or her situation, we just help her."

Steinem was presented with WRRAP's 2010 Award for her vision and tireless work on reproductive rights for all women. Upon receiving her award from Joyce Schorr, Steinem said: "All of our opportunities as women stem from being able to control our bodies and have access to safe and legal abortions. I believe in WRRAP, the national fund that creates a bridge between women and a safe legal abortion, as a freely chosen option. WRRAP must do its work. I can think of no more satisfying and concrete way of making reproductive freedom an egalitarian reality."

Steinem also reflected on the current controversial law signed by Governor Gary Herbert of Utah charging women and girls with murder for having miscarriages caused by "intentional or knowing acts." Steinem said: "The new law was precipitated by a 17-year-old girl from Vernal, Utah, who was seven months pregnant and paid someone to beat her up after her boyfriend threatened to leave her if she didn't terminate the pregnancy."

During a Question and Answer period with event attendees, a member in the crowd asked Steinem about one of her famous quotes when she turned 40-years-old, when Steinem once quipped: "This is what 40 looks like," to someone who couldn't believe what her true age was. With regard to age, Steinem said: "We've been lying so long about our age, who would know? Next week I will be 76-years-old on March 25, 2010, and I'll be saying the same thing I said years ago, but only now, it will be: This is what 76 looks like."

Aside from Gloria Steinem, VIPS in attendance at the event included: Cynthia Campoy Brophy, Annabeth Gish, Sandy Gleysteen, Corky Hale, Sally Kellerman, Ian Masters, Fred Paul, Christina Pickles, Joyce Schorr, Eric Shore, Katherine Spillar and Mike Stoller.

Endorsers of WRRAP include: Claudia Lapin Charitable Trust, Fullen-Smith Foundation, Greetin Foundation, Hefner Foundation, Mike and Corky Hale Stoller Foundation, Ms. Foundation - The Gloria Fund, Peter Norton Family Foundation, Playboy Enterprises, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, Roth Family Fund, Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, The Annenberg Foundation, The Bydale Foundation, The Prentice Foundation, The Rose and Sherle Wagner Foundation, the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood and The National Coalition of Abortion Providers.

WRRAP raises money for low-income women of all ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds who are unable to pay for either emergency contraception or a safe and legal abortion. WRRAP's services are provided free-of-charge to clinics all over the nation. All clinics are State-of-the-Art facilities and most are affiliated with organizations with very high standards such as Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), the National Abortion Federation (NAF) or the National Coalition of Abortion Providers (NCAP).

To learn more about WRRAP, please visit the website www.wrrap.org.

 

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