Cecile Richards, who served as the president of Planned Parenthood for more than a decade, will step down as president in 2018, the organization confirmed Friday.
Official news of her departure came after numerous media outlets this week reported that she planned to step down.
"Leading Planned Parenthood over the last 12 years has been the honor of my lifetime," Richards said in a release. "Together, we have made real progress in this country, expanding access to services and making reproductive rights a central priority of our nation's health care system. I'm deeply proud of the progress we've made for the millions of people Planned Parenthood health centers serve across the country each year."
During her time at Planned Parenthood, Richards built the organization’s base from 3 million to 11 million supporters, grew the group’s donor base, and fought to expand access to birth control and preventative care under the Affordable Care Act, Planned Parenthood said.
About the Author
