New York, 1 February 2010 — The Ford Foundation today announced that Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, will join the foundation’s board of trustees when the board next meets in May. She was elected at the January meeting of the trustees that took place last week.

Ms. Richards brings to the Ford Foundation a long history of work in the nonprofit sector, particularly in the areas of women’s health, reproductive rights, and social justice. Since 2006, she has led Planned Parenthood, a federation with nearly 850 health centers providing high-quality health care to millions of people each year. She has a depth of experience working with grassroots groups across the country, as well as with policymakers in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Planned Parenthood, Ms. Richards founded and served as president of America Votes, a coalition of more than 40 national organizations working on voting rights, voter education and mobilization efforts at the grassroots level.

“Cecile has a rich understanding of the social justice mission that guides our grantmaking, and I am very proud to welcome her to our board,” said Luis Ubiñas, president of the Ford Foundation. “Her grasp of the complexities of social change, her achievements in building grassroots movements, and her commitment to working for the marginalized reflect the best traditions of the foundation’s leadership.”

Ford trustees serve six-year terms, and may be re-elected to the board for a second term. The 15-member board of trustees sets broad policy related to the foundation’s issue areas and geographic focus, budget, investments, and professional standards, and it oversees governance and audits. Members of the board are drawn from around the world and bring expertise in the fields of higher education, business, law, investments, government, and the nonprofit sector.