ARTICLES

Local Planned Parenthood Spreads Tentacles

USD and Mission San Luis Rey Cited

"Numbers That Tell a Story," (News Notes, October, 2000) described the financial "abortion empire" built by California Planned Parenthood affiliates. The article relied on federal tax returns for the year ending June 30, 1999. Tax-exempt organizations must file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ every year. Such returns, like individual 1040 returns, may be accompanied by supporting IRS schedules and other detailed statements.

As the second-largest state affiliate with 16 clinic locations, Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside counties reported total revenues of $15.2 million and total expenses of $14 million between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999. Like its other California affiliates, almost half of our local Planned Parenthood's income -- $7.4 million, or 49% -- came from "government contributions." Other sources include $4.8 million (32%) from "program service revenue" including government fees and contracts; $2.5 million (16%) from direct public support; and a total of $447,842 (3%) from publicly-traded securities sales, dividends and interest from securities, and "other investment income."

More interesting than the income is the distribution of the $14 million total expense figure. $7.7 million, or nearly 55% -- was spent on employee compensation costs, including:

-- $6.7 million for other salaries and wages;
-- $482,570 for payroll taxes;
-- $350,192 for other employee benefits;
-- $96,116 for pension plan contributions.

Schedule A lists the following annual compensation (including salaries and benefits) for "the five highest paid employees other than officers, directors, and trustees":

-- [Abortionist] Katharine Sheehan, medical director, $213,278;
-- Mark Salo, president/CEO, $168,349;
-- [Abortionist] Frederick Hopkins, associate medical director, $129,877;
-- Robert Coles, chief financial officer, $85,069;
-- Dixie Newman, vice president -- clinic operations, $79,263.

Schedule A discloses the "compensation of the five highest paid independent contractors for professional services." These are:

-- Keith Limberg, fundraising, $90,000;
-- [Abortionist] Sean Tayebi, medical services, $104,469;
-- [Abortionist] Donald Byrnes, medical services, $132,845;
-- [Abortionist] Joseph Marmet, medical services, $63,050.

Salo and Coles are listed in a supporting statement of zero-compensation "officers, directors, trustees and key employees." The 10-member roster includes abortionist Fred Schnepper.

Other line-item expenditures include $2.4 million (17%) for "other expenses"; $1.9 million (13%) for supplies; $934,206 (7%) for occupancy; $335,916 for depreciation, depletion, etc.; $197,752 for printing and publications; $156,786 for interest; $144,741 for travel; $118,628 for postage and shipping; and $104,445 for equipment rental and maintenance.

According to a supporting statement, nearly half of the $2.4 million "other expenses" figure -- $1.2 million -- was spent on "professional fees and contracts." Other costs include:

-- $297,100 (12%) for advertising;
-- $264,114 (11%) for insurance;
-- $209,604 for Mexfam (bi-national);
-- $207,170 for payments to affiliates;
-- $138,201 for miscellaneous;
-- $82,877 for special events;
-- $11,596 for bad debts;
-- $10,975 for membership dues;
-- $9,987 for board expenses;
-- $8,908 for nurse practitioner training;
-- $369 for continuing education.

Several line items that would be expected to show costs based on common business practices are left blank. For example, no telephone expense is shown on line 34. Line 32, legal fees, is blank -- though Planned Parenthood has been engaged since March 1999 in a lawsuit against pro-lifers filed by pro-abortion attorney James McElroy.

Line 30, professional fundraising fees, and line 31, accounting fees, are blank, though Schedule A lists $90,000 compensation to Keith Limberg for fundraising services and the return bears the "paid preparer" signature of Mission Valley CPA Todd O. Downing. $155,584 is shown as an expense to "influence national, state or local legislation, including any attempt to influence public opinion on a legislative matter or referendum."

Of the $11.8 million total program services expense, $10.7 million (91%) went to "patient services -- clinical services, contraceptives, counseling and education on family planning, birth control and health." The remaining $1.1 million (9%) was spent on "community services [to provide] family planning information to the public at large."

More information about Planned Parenthood services can be found on its website at http://www.planned.org. The partnerships, initiatives, and special events demonstrate how the group has used its money to advance its anti-life message throughout Southern and Baja California -- particularly through "education and training programs."

For example, Planned Parenthood operates the Carolyn Shuck Education and Training Center in Mission Valley, serving approximately 30,000 people annually, "which helps people make sound reproductive and sexual health choices through sexuality education and training."

Through classroom programs, "Planned Parenthood offers classes that cover a range of topics including anatomy and physiology, birth control, natural family planning, sexually transmitted infections, healthy relationships, values clarification, responsible decision making, and goal setting. Participants in these classes range in age from sixth grade through adulthood. Classes are available in both English and Spanish and incorporate messages of sexual responsibility and strategies for successful contraceptive use." University of San Diego and La Jolla Country Day School are among dozens of "mainstream schools" that have received this instruction, according to the website.

Under the heading of "Site Specific" education, Planned Parenthood offers "a unique combination of our services. Typically these programs focus on promoting sexual abstinence, reducing unhealthy consequences of sexual activity, strengthening healthy relationships and promoting regular use of reproductive health care services." Organizations "which benefited from these services" include the Girl Scouts, the Black Infant Health Fair, and Mission San Luis Rey.

IMAGES is a "teen theatre program created by and for adolescents and young adults. Ranging in age from 16-19, cast members conduct peer-to-peer education through the medium of theatre on issues related to responsible decision making. According to the website, IMAGES has performed for over 40 organizations, including Black Entertainment Television, the Santee Teen Center, and SDSU Upward Bound.

Planned Parenthood sponsors two sixth-grade education outreach programs. Males Acting Responsibly for Community and Health (MARCH) is a "twelve week, after-school program for 6th grade boys" that "focuses on developing responsible decision making skills and promotes goal setting and community involvement." Sisters Together Acting Responsibly (STAR) "focuses on 11-12 year old young women at risk for teen motherhood. The STAR curriculum, which is modeled after our successful MARCH program, works to build self-esteem and improve body image and covers such topics as puberty, decision making, goal setting, and communication skills."

"The teenSMART program is designed to encourage low-income, under-served, at-risk youth to access clinical services. Through this program we offer classes in anatomy/physiology, birth control, and sexually transmitted infections. All of the classes are available in English and Spanish and incorporate messages of sexual responsibility and strategies for successful contraceptive use." Some of the organizations "that utilized this program through the state-funded teenSMART program" include the San Diego Rescue Mission, YMCA Camp Surf, North County Boys and Girls Club, the Children's Home Society in Indio, and the California School for the Deaf in Riverside.

Other programs run by Planned Parenthood include:

-- Action Fund, Planned Parenthood's political action committee.
-- Baja Mar Pro Salud Golf Tournament, held annually in Ensenada.
-- The Binational Program, a partnership with Mexican "family planning" agencies Mexfam and Fronteras Salidas Pro Salud.
-- CHOICE Words, a quarterly newsletter.
-- A Clinic Based Advocacy program which has "generated hundreds of phone calls to local legislators and registered numerous patients to vote".
-- Facts of Life Line, a 24-hour-a-day phone line that provides "up to date information about health, birth control, pregnancy and sexuality...."
-- The Friends, a program providing "financial assistance to women that otherwise would not be able to afford the services of Planned Parenthood."
-- The Helen Goldfeder Resource Library "housing approximately 1,100 publications, including books, journals, and videos, on topics relevant to reproductive health care."
-- A Partnering Project "with local community based organizations, including the Alliance for African Assistance ... to serve the reproductive health care needs of African immigrants."
-- The President's Council, "a forum for those donors who give at the level of $1,000.... President's Council events typically take place over a meal or cocktails."
-- A Residency Training Program begun in 1999 "due to concern over the dwindling number and aging of abortion providers" whose purpose is "to provide medical residents with training in abortion procedures and techniques."
-- Security, which is "responsible for the development of emergency protocols and the training of all staff on security procedures" and which "is also in regular contact with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies."
-- A quarterly Strategic Dialogue Series "on current events and topics of interest relevant to the field of reproductive healthcare."
-- A 200-member Volunteer Program which "partner[s] San Diego City Schools' METRO program to provide volunteer opportunities for students with disabilities."

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