An Unfortunate Event: Lemony Snicket Gives $1M to Planned Parenthood

As the debate around federal funding for Planned Parenthood intensifies, author Daniel Handler and his wife, illustrator Lisa Brown, have stepped up to support the embattled women’s health care provider, publicly pledging one million dollars of their own money for the organization.

Adds MSN: “Republican lawmakers rapidly assailed Richards with accusations over her salary, Planned Parenthood’s travel expenses, and the activities of the group’s political action committee”.

“[Planned Parenthood is] a great organization that has provided top-quality health care for countless women and families in our lives”, she said.

The announcement of the donation has come after a series of unfortunate events for Planned Parenthood.

Handler made headlines when he made a racist joke about a black novelist at an awards ceremony in 2014 and donated to an organization that promotes diversity in literature.

Along with Handler, Lena Dunham, Kerry Washington, and Elizabeth Banks have rallied their support for Planned Parenthood in recent weeks. He says they’ve been very fortunate and “good fortune should be shared with noble causes”.

In addition to A Series of Unfortunate Events, Handler is the author of The Dark and We Are Pirates.

The announcement of the donation follows Planned Parenthood having endured criticism after videos surfaced earlier this year that appeared to show the organization’s workers talking about selling fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards took to Capital Hill this week for a four hour-oftentimes contentious-hearing of the House Oversight Committee.