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The Dorothy Cardwell "Sunny" Knickerbocker Award is presented to an individual or organization whose leadership in the community has had a significant impact on the ability of Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge to achieve its goals. This major award bears Mrs. Knickerbocker's name because her life's work reflected so clearly the values at the core of the Planned Parenthood mission. She was committed to assisting the disadvantaged, and she knew that making family planning available was an essential step in enabling self-determination. Mrs. Knickerbocker believed that education about sexuality was at the heart of the Planned Parenthood mission, for without it, women and men cannot make informed, responsible choices about their relationships, their families, and their lives.
Knickerbocker Luncheon Remarks by Senator Emily
Couric Thank you for this incredible honor. Although I have served on the local Planned Parenthood board and, as a state senator, have spoken out on behalf of causes related to women's reproductive health care, Planned Parenthood has been a part of my life for a much longer time. When I was a young adult, my mother volunteered at the Planned Parenthood offices in Northern Virginia. I remember listening to her talk about her dedication to Planned Parenthood and the importance of respecting the privacy of women's reproductive health care decisions. I also know that she really liked the other volunteers with whom she worked. Immediately after graduating from college, I accepted a job as a biology teacher in a private school for girls in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My first day on the job, the head mistress handed me the assignment to be the school's sex education teacher - I am sure in large part due to my young age of 22. Because I had been married for a mere 2 months, I quickly ran to the library and thus managed to stay one chapter ahead of my students. I even remember taking the bus to the downtown Boston Planned Parenthood office one cold, wintry day and returning home with a kit the staff kindly lent me which contained samples of various contraceptives. With some trepidation, I passed the kit around the classroom as I explained to my 15-year-old students how the various devices worked. After each lesson - when I had the kit back in my hands - I very carefully scrutinized the contents to make sure every item was present and accounted for. I have to admit to a feeling of relief after returning my teaching aid to Planned Parenthood. Of course, all of that was a long time ago. And since those early years, I have continued to believe deeply in the importance of a woman's reproductive rights and the privacy inherent in her healthcare decisions. Wherever I have lived or worked, I've enjoyed the pleasure of associating with numerous friends and colleagues who feel as strongly as I do. I count among them all of you who support Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge. I am impressed and inspired by your thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and steadfast commitment to our community. Those whom you have honored as previous award recipients certainly stand out in this regard, and I am particularly humbled to be included among them. This is a difficult time for those of us who continue to speak out on behalf of a woman's right to make her own reproductive health care choices. We in Virginia have experienced some rough battles. And, as all of you know, we have lost some recent, hard-fought legislative debates. Nonetheless, we must continue as strong advocates for our cause, fighting against those who would further undermine Planned Parenthood's efforts. Our work is based in large part on education, a job that never ends. We all recognize that ours is not a partisan cause. It is one about which both Republicans and Democrats feel strongly. For our purposes, we must eschew political grandstanding in favor of reasoned debate and sound public policy decision-making. I hope, actually I know, that all of us will continue to support this cause together. The next General Assembly session will, without a doubt, present the legislature with more bills attempting to invade and constrain a woman's right to make her own reproductive health care decisions. Other initiatives, such as proposed legislation to enhance the availability of emergency contraception, will provide a welcome opportunity to assist women throughout the state. I know that each of you will be following these discussions closely and will make your views known. Thank you for being part of this very important process and for recognizing me as one of the many who work alongside you.
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