Shonda Rhimes joins national board of Planned Parenthood
Shonda Rhimes has given the world Grey's Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder, and Scandal. Now the acclaimed producer wants to use her storytelling skills to improve reproductive rights.
In an interview with Elle, Rhimes revealed she has joined the national board of Planned Parenthood. After being active with her local Los Angeles affiliate for years, the television mastermind is expanding her responsibilities to support the organization.
SEE ALSO: Get schooled online by celebrities like Steve Martin, Shonda Rhimes
"When someone you really admire ... calls on you to serve, you say yes," she said in the interview, referring to Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards. "Women's health is under fire right now and so to me, it feels like it's important to help fight back."
Richards told Elle that Rhimes will help the organization focus on the stories of people who too often don't get heard.
"The best thing we can do is just channel the enormous creative energy and storytelling ability that Shonda Rhimes already has to do our work even better," Richards said.
The PP president has long been a fan of Rhimes' work. In 2015, Richards tweeted praise at the acclaimed writer for an episode of Scandal in which protagonist Olivia Pope got an abortion.
Thank you @shondarhimes for bringing this incredibly important issue to the bajillion people watching. #Scandal
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) November 20, 2015
"She wrote a story that was not sensational; it was real, and people related to it," Richards said.
"There's almost no one in America who can't relate to the issue of an unplanned pregnancy or a troubled pregnancy; it's touched them somehow in their lives."
Said Rhimes: "When you help make people healthier, it makes the nation healthier, it makes the world healthier, it makes the economy healthier.
"I just want to be of service, and I'll do that any way I can."
It's another great day in Shondaland.