Amy Poehler goes to bat for Planned Parenthood in a fundraising email sent out by the women's health service provider on Monday.
"You know who is awesome? Cecile Richards. She's the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America," Poehler says. "Every single doctor and nurse and receptionist and volunteer who shows up at a Planned Parenthood health center to make sure that every person who walks through their door gets the care they need."
The message from the "Parks and Recreation" star and former cast member of "Saturday Night Live" comes amid Republican efforts mounting on the state level to defund the women's health organization.
HuffPost's Laura Bassett reports:
Four states have passed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood so far this year, but the family planning provider is not going down without a fight. A federal judge in Indiana sided with Planned Parenthood against the defunding law on Friday, blocking its implementation, and now the legal battle is moving to Kansas.
"Think about your friends, or your sister, or your daughter, son, niece, or nephew. Think about every person out there who has nowhere else to go, nobody else to count on, nobody but Planned Parenthood," writes Poehler to supporters of the organization. "It's up to us to make sure Planned Parenthood is strong enough to protect their rights and their health. Especially because we are having a moment right now when people are trying to come up with new ways to make the lives of all the folks who rely on Planned Parenthood pretty difficult."
Poehler concludes her message by asking readers to join her in "saying that Planned Parenthood is awesome."
Below, full text of the email.
Hi ____,
You know who is awesome? Cecile Richards. She's the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She's smart, she's tough, and she's totally dedicated to fighting for women's health. And you know who else totally rules? Every single doctor and nurse and receptionist and volunteer who shows up at a Planned Parenthood health center to make sure that every person who walks through their door gets the care they need.
And when it comes to Planned Parenthood, there's one more group of people who are really, truly, no-kidding awesome: the members who give money and time to make it all possible. I should know. I'm one of them.
You should be, too. In fact, you should stop reading this email right now and click here to become a Planned Parenthood Federation of America member like me this very second. Helping Planned Parenthood help women is always a good thing, but right now it's even better because some very generous donors will make a $50 gift to Planned Parenthood Federation of America for every new member who pledges at least $5 per month (but only until June 30, so do it now).
You get these emails, you pay attention — you already know how important Planned Parenthood is. But now is an especially important time to give and become a member. Pledge $5 right now (more if you can afford it!), and you'll generate an immediate $50 gift to Planned Parenthood. There's no better way to have an impact for women's health than being a member — and right now is the best time to give.
Admit it, that's pretty convincing. You know it's time to reach for that credit card and make your donation. But if you're still not sold, think back to the first time you went to a Planned Parenthood health center, scared or broke or confused or hopeful. Think about your friends, or your sister, or your daughter, son, niece, or nephew. Think about every person out there who has nowhere else to go, nobody else to count on, nobody but Planned Parenthood.
It's up to us to make sure Planned Parenthood is strong enough to protect their rights and their health. Especially because we are having a moment right now when people are trying to come up with new ways to make the lives of all the folks who rely on Planned Parenthood pretty difficult. What makes it possible for Planned Parenthood to make a real, irreplaceable difference for those folks are members like me — and hopefully you.
So why are you still reading? You should be click-click-clicking right here to become a member!
Thanks for reading this, thanks for joining or renewing, thanks for sticking with the incredible people at this incredible organization, and thanks for joining me in saying that Planned Parenthood is awesome!
Sincerely,
Amy Poehler