- July 9, 2025
Loading
Co-Chairwoman Sandi Stewart and Linda Poteat-Brown
Co-Chairwomen Carolyn A. Fitzpatrick and Ellie Merritt Darlington
Co-Chairs Dr. Maureen Maguire and Dr. Doug Kuperman
Felice Schulaner and Chairman Dennis Rees
Co-Chairwoman Katie and Peter Hayes
The Planned Parenthood Sarasota Dinner & Silent Auction: “We Won’t Go Back” was held on March 9 at the Hyatt.
Betsey Tinkham, Kate Lannamann and Board Chair Carolyn Johnson
Gerry Weingarten and Joyce Toppel
Jerry and Judy Fleischer
Ann Tanne, Kathy Van Citters and Pete Tanne
Jeanette Hyde and Bonnie Chapman
The Planned Parenthood Sarasota Dinner & Silent Auction: “We Won’t Go Back” was held on March 9 at the Hyatt.
Allison Gardner, John Bean and Teresa Evans
Dr. Sujatha Prabhakaran and Amy MacDougall
Michele Grimes, Kimberly Bleach and Stephanie Grosskreutz
Dr. Karen Hamad, Dr. Virgil Reid, Ryan Endress and Dr. Jon Yenari
Elizabeth Osborne and Jean Upson
Chairman Dennis Rees welcomes guests.
Scott Osborne, Ann Fries and Jerry Jordan
Sarah Wertheimer, Sarah Beattie and Nick and Aron Owens
Colleen Tobin, Ellen Seidensticker and Mary Jean Harris
Steve and Trudy Bradley with Lou Wells
Michael Shelton and Marian Moss
SOURCE Actors perform “The Real Truth About Planned Parenthood,” which was produced and directed by KT Curran.
Roger Upson, Paula Weisman and Brock Leach
William and Christine Johnson
Dr. Karen Hamad and Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida President/CEO Barbara A. Zdravecky
Amanda Mason and Katherine Somodi-Stephenson
Fran and Jack Braverman
SOURCE Actors perform “The Real Truth About Planned Parenthood,” which was produced and directed by KT Curran.
Lisa Kates and Betty Schoenbaum
Don Burhart, Robert Baer and Hermione Gilpin
Aundria Castleberry, Rev. Bruce Wismer and his daughter, Lindsay Wismer
Dancers from Moving Ethos Dance Company perform “I’m a Survivor.”
Joseph Gianguzzo and Brian Lipton
Flora Major and Flori Roberts
There was an unusual amount of energy thumping through the pink-lit ballroom at Hyatt Regency Sarasota on March 9, and the second that Chairman Dennis Rees stepped on stage wearing a “pussy hat,” the popular symbol of support for women’s rights that emerged after President Donald Trump’s election, the crowd roared.
At first glance, the event began much like any other large-scale Sarasota fundraiser. Guests mingled and enjoyed light bites and drinks during cocktail hour — there was even a separate sponsor reception in the Marina Boathouse — but upon further inspection, it was clear that the event had a unique twist.
The silent auction, for example, was referred to as a “mission-based silent auction” that, along with items from over 50 donors, featured several educational materials so bidders could learn about the Planned Parenthood programs and initiatives that their money was supporting, broken down into three categories: patient care, education and advocacy.
When it was time to adjourn to the ballroom for dinner, guests were first greeted by a cluster of young adults in white tunics. Instead of a speech, the group began a dramatic sketch that involved yelling phrases such as “they answered all of my questions, ALL OF THEM!” angrily. The actors continued to furiously shout out services that Planned Parenthood provides until one actor pointed out that all of the statements that they were making seemed to be positive aspects of Planned Parenthood.
After some laughs, the young adults pulled off their tunics to reveal their black and white “We Won’t Go Back” T-shirts, then continued to explain why these services help the patients that come in to use them.
It was after this performance that Chairman Dennis Rees made his own dramatic appearance onstage. Donning his pink knit symbol of feminism, Rees began to passionately recite old Planned Parenthood slogans. When he got to the current slogan, “Care. Nomatter what,” he explained its connection to the idea behind the evening’s theme, “We Will Not Go back.”
Rees explained that the theme is a reference to Planned Parenthood’s national effort to fight back against defunding, against Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers and against attacks on Roe v. Wade, and he further illustrated this point by reciting several quotes about change and progress by famous activists and politicians such as Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon Johnson. In between each quote, he yelled “We will not go back.”
It didn’t take long for the crowd of over 700 — which made up the highest attendance of any Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida event to date — to join in.