On the second anniversary of the landmark Dobbs Supreme Court decision which stripped away federal abortion rights, Planned Parenthood South Texas has rolled out what they're calling the "Fanny Fund." According to a report by San Antonio Report, the initiative aims to aid residents in accessing a spectrum of reproductive and primary health care services. Notably, the fund specifically will not cover travel for out-of-state abortions, in line with Planned Parenthood South Texas' services.
The Fanny Fund, carrying the legacy of Fanny Goldstein through the name of her great-granddaughter and former board chair Elise Boyan, is set to deliver medical service vouchers via partnering nonprofits in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. These vouchers are intended to help cover costs at Planned Parenthood clinics, including services such as contraception, STI testing, and primary care treatments for conditions like diabetes and mental health issues. Mara Posada, the organization's director of public affairs, emphasized the essentiality of equitable health care, noting that it "boosts our ability to overcome" life's challenges.
In a show of resistance during the fund's announcement, fewer than a dozen anti-abortion activists attended the unveiling and attempted to disrupt the event. Despite this, Laura Terrill, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, addressed the gathering unshaken, stating, "Our patients don't come to us to make a political statement. They come to us for life-saving, preventative health care they need," as San Antonio Report captured in her address.
The Fanny Fund is initiated with a six-figure sum contributed by Boyan, although the total amount remains undisclosed. Planned Parenthood South Texas is opening the door to further donations through their website. This funding arrives against the backcloth of nearly 800,000 Texans situated in a healthcare "coverage gap," a delicate position between the thresholds of Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace affordability, as noted by Mayor Ron Nirenberg at the fund announcement.
Compounding the impact of the Fanny Fund is San Antonio's $500,000 Reproductive Justice Fund, which is anticipated to open proposals soon and set its allocations into motion by 2025. Planned Parenthood South Texas is considering applying for these funds as well, Posada indicated in her comments.
Amidst this flurry of support and contention, the legal tussles continue unabated. Texas Right to Life, according to the San Antonio Report, remains steadfast in its objection to taxpayer dollars funding what they perceive as pro-abortion activities—an objection they intend to pursue aggressively, as indicated in their planned appeal following an overruled lawsuit on standing grounds.
