Farmingdale's Ramona Battle, a true community leader, received the Beatrice McClintock Award for Advocacy from Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC) at the organization's annual luncheon in the Garden City Hotel.

A staff member at the Nassau County Youth Board for more than 20 years, Battle has helped the agency achieve its mission of promoting self-esteem, positive values, citizenship and dignity through youth and community development. Battle has also been a key partner in the planning and implementing of numerous efforts in coordination with other agencies to prevent sexually transmitted diseases among teens.

As with Battle, one of Planned Parenthood's goals also is prevention: of unintended pregnancies, of unhealthy behaviors and of sexually transmitted infections. PPNC is one of Nassau's most important clinical resources for young people and the less affluent. For those without medical insurance, fees are based on a sliding scale, and all health centers accept Medicaid. Recently PPNC launched a new program that provides free birth control and exams for residents who earn above normal Medicaid levels.