Former PPNC Director of Development Catherine Casey, a long-time Garden City resident, and her friend Arlene Richards. (l to r). A large group of Garden City residents enjoyed the annual Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC) luncheon at the Garden City Hotel. The event, preceded by a free symposium, raised $50,000 to help support PPNC's three health centers, in Hempstead, Glen Cove and Massapequa, which serve more than 12,000 patients, offering primary care, prenatal care, gynecological and birth control services, pap tests, colposcopy, breast exams, pregnancy tests and testing and counseling for sexually transmitted infections.

Ms. Casey, with PPNC CEO and President Karen Pearl, and Garden City's Betsy Blattmachr. Ms. Blattmachr is a former PPNC Board Chair. (l to r) In line with PPNC's primary goal of prevention-of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and other health-related conditions-PPNC also offers a range of educational programs for adults and young people, as well as public-affairs programs.

PPNC is one of Nassau's most important clinical resources for young people and the less affluent. For those without medical insurance, fees are based on a sliding scale, and all health centers accept Medicaid. Recently PPNC launched a new program that provides free birth control and exams for residents who earn above normal Medicaid levels.

The Rev. Nancy Schaffer with Garden City resident Jackie Carr, of the Ethical Humanist Society.

Jan Barbieri, executive director of the Child Care Council of Nassau, and her husband, David, of Stewart Manor, bring flowers for the Long Island Community Foundation, one of the luncheon honorees.