Dear family and friends, 

September 8, 2023 marks the centennial of my mother Esther Lewis’s birth. She was an inspirational role model, community activist, and philanthropist, who impacted all of us in so many ways. Esther’s life-long advocacy for access to comprehensive reproductive health care was demonstrated through years of volunteer service as officer, board member, and lobbyist for UHPP.  

In 1977 Esther was instrumental in creating Family Planning Advocates of New York State, a statewide family planning public affairs office in downtown Albany, whose mission was to defend reproductive rights and promote progressive family planning policy. In 1997 she was the recipient of FPA’s Alfred F. Moran Public Advocacy Award recognizing her contributions to promoting public policy that guarantees reproductive rights and access to reproductive health services for all women in New York State.  

The recent Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade that removes federal protection of abortion rights and the shuttering of many reproductive health providers nationally leaves us with much work to do. I ask you to join me in standing up to the threats to our reproductive rights and honoring Esther’s memory by making a donation to Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. 

Best,

Naomi Lewis