Thankful for your support this season!

Here at the New York Abortion Access Fund, this holiday season is full of gratitude. We’re so thankful for your support, which has allowed us to serve more people and pledge more funds in 2017 than ever before. We could not have achieved this without you!

We have raised $34,024 to our year-end goal of $75,000 — can you help us reach it by Sunday December 31? 

For many people, the holidays are a time of increased financial hardship, which can make abortion particularly difficult to access. This holiday season, you can help ensure that people don’t have to choose between paying their rent and getting medical care. Your gift to NYAAF means that our callers don’t have to.

Now, more than ever, your support serves as an important statement. With your donation to NYAAF, you are affirming that abortion should be accessible to all, and that reproductive freedom is a fundamental right.

Please make a year-end gift today. Multiply your impact by talking to family and friends about abortion this holiday season and encouraging them to make a gift, too.

Wishing you Happy Holidays!
With love and gratitude, The NYAAF Board of Directors

OTHER WAYS TO DONATE

Send a check payable to the New York Abortion Access Fund to FDR Station, Box 7569, New York, NY 10150.

At no cost to you, choose NYAAF as your charitable organization of choice on Amazon Smile

NYAAF stands with DREAMers

We are outraged and disheartened by the Trump Administration’s announcement to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This decision is a continuation of the Administration’s harmful immigration agenda that is poised to have disastrous consequences for hundreds of thousands of families. To those in our communities directly impacted by this announcement, know that NYAAF proudly and firmly stands with you and the 800,000 DREAMers.

A person’s worth is not measured by their immigration status or the country in which they were born. We hold steadfast to our conviction that each of us has the right to an education, a living wage, health care, and the right to make our own reproductive health decisions. We all deserve the opportunity to thrive in our lives without fear. In these uncertain and dangerous times, NYAAFcontinues our commitment to ensuring ALL individuals have the rights and resources to access the safe abortion care they need. As always, we continue to welcome and serve clients regardless of immigration status, and respect our clients’ privacy and autonomy by not requiring that they disclose it.  

No human being is illegal. DREAMers and all immigrants living in this country are our fellow Americans, regardless of the documentation they hold. NYAAF will continue to organize, mobilize, and fight for justice for all. We hope you join us in the streets as we protest, and in our communities as we build collective power to defend DACA, DREAMers, and undocumented immigrants. Please visit weareheretostay.org for resources and opportunities to take action.

You broke records again! Thank you bowlers and supporters!

The New York Abortion Access Fund has set a new organizational and national record for the most successful Bowl-a-Thon ever. With more than 500 bowlers and more than $250,000 raised, you can count on even more education, advocacy, and abortions funded in New York in the year to come.

We’d like to sincerely thank all our bowlers for going the extra mile in their Bowl-a-Thon fundraising we hope you had as great of a time as we did celebrating your success on Sunday! Special thanks to and Barbara Kass and Knock Down the Pinheads, who earned the top bowler and top fundraising team spotlights. Extra shout-outs to Bodega Plan B and The Ovary Actors for bringing incredible spirit to the event with their team flair! Finally, we want to acknowledge the small army of incredible volunteers who made the event possible.

The Bowl-a-Thon is not just our biggest fundraiser of the year, but also a time to build and enjoy  our activist community. This year’s success is a powerful statement about the support for abortion access that exists in New York, and the commitment we share to stand up against harmful restrictions on access with compassion and action.

We’re thrilled to have expanded our presence in Western New York, where we’ll be hosting the first ever NYAAF Buffalo Bowl-a-Thon this Saturday. As politicians roll back abortion access across the country, it’s vital that NYAAF is able support those who travel to all parts of New York for the care they need. It’s not too late to join the Buffalo event, or support the team or fundraiser of your choice!

We’re so thankful to have you with us on this journey, and can’t wait to see you again!  

In gratitude and solidarity,

The NYAAF Board of Directors

It’s Bowl-a-Thon Season!

It’s time to make history. When we look back at 2017, let’s make sure it was a year when we all persisted, resisted… and bowled!

Join us for NYAAF’s 8th Annual Bowl-a-Thon!
Sunday, April 23, 2017
11 AM – 4 PM
Bowlmor Chelsea Piers (Pier 60)
New York, NY

This April, be a part of the movement for reproductive justice, as abortion funds all over the country host bowling extravaganzas to raise money to ensure abortion access for all who need it.

Right now, the fight for safe and equitable abortion access is more important than ever, so we’re not just going to break records this year, we’re going to SHATTER them.

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But we can’t do it without you. Get your friends, families, colleagues, classmates, or community groups together, form a team, and register to bowl with us! Got some extra team spirit? Register as a team captain! No team? No problem! Sign up as an individual and we’ll match you up with other awesome bowlers. Once you register, we’ll share lots of tools to help you meet your fundraising goals!

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REGISTER HERE!


We can’t wait to get out there with you and strike down barriers to abortion access!Last year NYAAF’s Bowl-a-Thon was a HUGE success! This year, we’ve made some changes to make this the biggest and BEST Bowl-a-Thon yet, like having morning and afternoon time slots to accommodate even more spirited bowlers. We’ll be posting more details on the registration siteour website, and the Facebook event page, so check back often.

In Solidarity,

Sara, Lanai, Kaitlyn, Caitlin, Brittany, Anisha and the rest of the 2017 NYAAF Bowl-a-thon Planning Committee

 

Tye’s Story — a Client’s Experience with NYAAF

Grassroots donors like you are at the very core of abortion funding — as are our clients. So, as we close out 2016, we want to tell you about Tye, one of the hundreds of clients we worked with this year, who generously shared her story with us. Tye’s words underscore how important our supporters are, and how much of a difference your contributions make in the lives of each of our clients.  As you read about her experience, please consider making that difference today with a donation to NYAAF.

Tye’s experience with NYAAF:

I’m originally from New York, and I currently reside in Georgia. As a 40-year-old proud mother of three going through a divorce, when I missed my period, the furthest thing from my mind was pregnancy. I’d been with my husband for seven years, and nothing had happened outside of our daughter. Since I was turning 40, I honestly thought I was going through menopause. I’d never been 40 before, so there’s no blueprint!

I’d started working out and doing 5 miles a day, joined a boot camp, and could see my body slimming down, except this one area, which I could never get right. Overall, I was still trying to mentally grab my hands around the fact that what used to be my life was no longer my life.

But I laid down here one day and I just felt something. I thought it was gas. And at that point, the light bulb went on. I guess I was in denial for quite a bit, and I’m just saying to myself, “No this can’t be, there’s just no way. Scientifically, it doesn’t make sense.” So I decided to go to the doctor. Sure enough, the furthest thing from my head, was it: I was pregnant.

A lot of things were going through my mind, of course. In the situation I was in, there was just no way. No time is ever the right time, but this time was really the wrong time. Still, I wasn’t exactly worried. I knew I was paying for top-of-the-line insurance. Coming from New York, I know that women are allowed to have a termination up to 24 weeks. I just assumed that was what it was throughout the country. Perhaps that was rather ignorant, but that’s just what I thought.

I called Kaiser, my health insurance, to get the authorization for me to go to the nearest facility. Everything was going as planned, until they did the sonogram. It turns out I was past the state limitation in Georgia. Immediately I was very sick. They gave me a list: Maryland, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, or something like that. All places I’ve never been. I was 21 weeks, not what I was expecting at all. If anything, I was counting back from maybe 3 or 4 weeks.

So again, yes, I’m thinking of all kinds of things. It’s a very emotional thing. This is very traumatizing for a person because you’re beating yourself up, “What did I do?” You’re literally googling things on how to miscarry on your own—you’re just thinking of ways of how you can correct this. I have no family here, and there’s no way I’m going to go to New Mexico or Colorado or any of these places; where would I be going?

So I said, “OK, I’m going to go New York. I work every day, I have insurance, I should be ok. I have this money that comes out of my salary so that I’m well taken care of when I need it the most.” I called the insurance company and they said I do not have coverage outside of Georgia. But Georgia regulations say I can’t do it in Georgia. Considering the state regulations, you would think that if I needed to go to another state it would still be covered, but no, that wasn’t the case, no was no. There was no compromise, there was no human interpretation.  

Then the New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) was recommended to me. I was going to fly to New York from Georgia, on the next flight. When I was going to New York, the price I was given was just for 21 weeks. Each additional day was an additional charge. I was given a price of $3000, of which I was going to cover $800, and I was approved with NYAAF for the balance.

So I went to the facility, and I was told it went from $3000 to about $6000—I think it doubled. I got sick again, because this was it, I had no other resources. When I had gotten the first approval, I immediately started crying tears of joy because I did not have any other options. So when I found out this was doubled, I just knew there was no way I could cover this excess amount.

I spoke to my case manager, Ryan, again, and he said he’d talk to NYAAF’s Board of Directors to see what could happen. So I basically left the facility not knowing what was going to happen. At that point, I had my mind set, like I guess this is it; I’m going to have to tell my family what’s going on and this is what it’s going to be. I was basically forced to have this child.

Ryan called me in the middle of the night, and told me he got the new approval. I started crying again. I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t believe it. This organization I knew nothing about actually saved my life.

There was no lengthy process, no paperwork that needed to be filled out. I guess I just couldn’t believe that it existed. And to be quite honest, I’m still in awe. I’m never ever going to forget this. I am definitely indebted for life to NYAAF, so I needed to share my story.

I don’t think many people understand how traumatizing the whole experience can be. They say, “How could you not know you were pregnant?” There are some cases where you really just don’t know, innocently, because there’s no way I could put myself through all that I went through, when I could have resolved everything sooner, without having to pay for airfare and hotel lodging, and everything else that it took for me to make this happen.

To me, it was a life or death scenario, that’s how serious it was. So when Ryan called and told me that I got the approval, I broke down and cried on the phone, because it was a life or death situation.

I worked with [NYAAF Volunteer Case Managers] Rachel and Ryan, and they were both sensitive to my needs and heartfelt. They worked quickly, and were very attentive. I was left thinking, “This person is actually going to try to help.” And again, I had no other place to turn—all of my trust was basically on this other person who was on the other end of the phone who I knew nothing about. It just saddens me that more women do not know that NYAAF exists. Not to take advantage of it, but just to know that there are organizations out there to really help you when there is no one else—when you feel like you’re forced to have a baby because of insurance and state regulations.

My life depended on whatever NYAAF could do for me. And that’s how I felt. And they came through.

Words just don’t express the amount of gratitude that I have for the donors that actually take the time out to think about others and donate to the organization. There are people that are very grateful. I’m one of them. Wholeheartedly grateful. Thank you. Thank you very much is all I can say. If I could do more, I would, because they need to know that they do save people’s lives. I don’t know how many people are grateful for what you all do collectively, but the statement that you’ve made in my life is definitely profound; it’s unforgettable. Unforgettable. That’s really my story.

Click Here to Donate to NYAAF

A note from the frontlines of the New York Abortion Access Fund

Two years ago, I found myself looking for a volunteer opportunity with an organization that was truly effecting change around reproductive justice. I was excited to find exactly what I was looking for in the New York Abortion Access Fund, whose mission is to support anyone in New York State who is unable to pay fully for an abortion. As someone who works outside reproductive health and politics, but who knows the very real ways that lack of access to reproductive health services can shape one’s life, I was eager to get involved in an organization that makes a direct impact on people’s lives.

unnamedAs a NYAAF intake volunteer, I respond to those who call or email us in need of assistance with the cost of their abortion. I work primarily with clients who only speak Spanish. Many of these clients are undocumented; I can hear their voices tremble when they leave a message on an unknown telephone number for an organization that claims it can help. Imagine being in that position, and having to trust that the person on the other end isn’t trying to scam or hurt you. It’s an anxiety that no one should have to feel while simply exercising their right to obtain a safe abortion. NYAAF trains its volunteers to work compassionately with clients, so that instead of being another barrier, we are a partner working alongside them to meet their needs. Since many of you will not hear their gratitude firsthand, I am here to tell you that it is profound and immeasurable.

We could not do this work without the support of our donors, and that is why I am writing to you. Like our clients, I hope you will put your trust in the work that we do, and that you will donate to NYAAF today. Your tax-deductible gift will make an immense difference in the lives of our callers, who deserve to access the healthcare they need with dignity and respect.

This year NYAAF had a record-breaking year; we pledged over $140,000 on behalf of over 400 clients with the help of donors like you. It is truly inspiring, and I feel honored to be part of the NYAAF family. We have raised nearly $17,000 towards our $60,000 end-of-year goal- can you help us support even more callers in 2017?

On behalf of all of us at NYAAF and our clients, THANK YOU for your commitment to making safe abortion accessible for everyone.

With warm wishes,
Karla Salguero
NYAAF Intake Volunteer

Click Here to Donate to NYAAF

I Love NYAAF

I ❤ NYAAF

I joined the NYAAF Board of Directors in 2015, and I can sincerely say it’s been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. As a public health practitioner, I’ve been conducting sexual and reproductive health research for nearly a decade. At this critical juncture for reproductive justice, it’s meant so much to be deeply involved in an organization that directly helps individuals get the abortion care they need. This year, NYAAF pledged over $140,000 on behalf of over 400 clients, making 2016 our most impactful year to date.

This past year, we as a Board also recommitted ourselves to being part of a larger movement toward social justice, recognizing that protecting access to safe abortion is a critical component of advancing social, racial, economic, and gender equity. We created and strengthened ties within our large network of allies, whether it was to champion fair wages, advocate for the safety of immigrant mothers and children, or to harness the collective power of abortion funding. I feel uncertain about what this next year will hold for our country, but I do feel certain of this: we will continue to give strength to each other as we fight for the health, safety, and dignity of all.

One of my proudest moments this year was representing NYAAF on a panel organized by Physicians for Reproductive Health, alongside esteemed reproductive justice advocates Dr. Willie Parker, attorney Jeryl Hayes, and Dr. Anne Davis (all pictured below). Our discussion reminded me that in our current sociopolitical climate, when so many individuals struggle to pay for the care they need, funds like NYAAF are essential to keeping abortion safe and accessible. This is why we need your support more than ever.

Paneling with some reproductive health superstars!

Paneling with some reproductive health superstars!

I hope you’ll consider joining me to ensure that NYAAF can meet the ever-growing need for our help.  Will you support us as we strive to meet our$60,000 end-of-year fundraising goal? Every tax-deductible donation supports our ability to keep abortion safe and accessible for those living in or traveling to New York.

On behalf of my fellow Board Members, our incredible cadre of volunteers, and our clients, thank you so much for your continued support.

Click Here to Donate to NYAAF

Volunteer to be a NYAAF case manager!

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Thank you for your interest in becoming a NYAAF case manager!

NYAAF’s intake case managers are dedicated volunteers who help manage our intake helpline and work directly with our clients to ensure they have the funds they need. Intake involves a commitment of one week at a time, during which volunteers staff a hotline, return calls to clients and reach out to clinics to make pledges on behalf of our callers.

This is a great opportunity to be trained in abortion fund case management, join a community of other committed volunteers and learn about abortion funding and clinical landscape in New York State first hand. Our next volunteer case management training is Saturday, January 28th 2016,

Please fill out this short application by January 8, 2016 to be considered for our next training. Be sure to not skip any questions and to answer all questions thoroughly as we’d like to get a strong sense of who you are and your commitment to reproductive health/justice.

This event has limited capacity. Your RSVP does not guarantee a spot, we will contact you and confirm your registration via email by January 18, 2016 with details and location information to confirm your attendance. For those we couldn’t fit in the training this time around, thank you so much for your interest, and don’t fret as we will be conducting another intake training soon. Please look out for other volunteer opportunities with NYAAF!

Thanks
NYAAF Board

Support NYAAF for #GivingTuesday!

Today is #GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back. This year more than ever, we recognize the need to give back to our community, and to ensure that New York remains a safe haven for individuals seeking abortion services. In the wake of this month’s election, it is clear that we will face renewed attacks on our mission to ensure abortion access. While New York State has strong protections surrounding abortion, many of our clients travel from other states where access is much more limited, and it is our mandate to support them.

What the New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) does is simple: we fund abortions. We can’t do that work without our amazing volunteers staffing our hotlines, and we can’t do it without your support. We are an all-volunteer organization with low overhead costs, which means that your donation goes directly toward helping individuals seeking abortion services.

HOW DO I DONATE?

  • You can donate online here.

  • You can send a check made out to the New York Abortion Access Fund to FDR Station, Box 7569, New York, NY 10150.

  • You can support us while doing your holiday shopping by choosing NYAAF as your charitable organization of choice on Amazon Smile.

This year, our goal for #GivingTuesday is to raise $60,000. Your support this holiday season will help us keep abortion accessible to anyone living in or coming to New York.

Click Here to Support NYAAF Today!

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Call for new Board Members! More info and application link HERE!

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The New York Abortion Access Fund is proud to fund abortions as part of the fight for reproductive justice for New Yorkers and for all–and we want you to join us!  NYAAF is seeking new additions to its all-volunteer Board of Directors.

We are soliciting applications for specific Board roles as well as “at-large” Board Members. No prior board experience is necessary; the main requirements are a commitment to our mission and values, leadership skills or potential, excellent interpersonal skills, and enthusiasm for working as a team. We expect applicants to be able to attend monthly board meetings (virtually or in person), and encourage a commitment of 2+ years of service on the Board.

We seek diversity in identity, perspective, and experience, including diversity in race, ethnicity, age, economic status, educational experience, status as a parent, ability, sexuality, gender identity, national origin, religious perspective, professional and career experience, and in accessing healthcare. We also hope to create leadership opportunities for those who have historically been excluded from the reproductive rights movement, including people of color, trans and gender-nonconforming people, young people (18-25), and those who have experienced difficulty in accessing necessary healthcare.

For more detailed information, please read our Call for Board Members. The Application can be emailed to us along with a resumé or list of relevant experience. The deadline for submission is October 11, 2016. Email us at applications@nyaaf.org with any questions!