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Real Alternatives Passes Rigorous Ethics and Accountability
Standards to be Re-Certified
October 5, 2007, Harrisburg, PA - Real Alternatives, administrator
of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's Alternative to
Abortion Program, and publisher of Concerned Parents Report, has once again been awarded the Pennsylvania
Association of Nonprofit Organization’s (PANO) Seal of Excellence
for successfully completing the Standards for Excellence
re-certification program. Real Alternatives was reviewed by a "jury
of its peers" who examined Real Alternatives for compliance with
PANO's Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code
for the Nonprofit Sector.
Standards for Excellence are based on fundamental values such as
honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and
accountability. Real Alternatives' programs and services,
management, fundraising, and financial practices were examined in
depth before the certification was awarded. Real Alternatives was
one of the first four organizations to be certified under the
Standards program that began in 2002, and again one of the very
first to be re-certified.
Kevin I. Bagatta, Esquire, President & CEO of Real Alternatives
comments: "Submitting to the review process required for
re-certification under the Standards for Excellence involved a lot
of hard work for us, but once again, it was a worthwhile process.
The PANO Seal of Excellence shows that over the years we have
continued to take every step to ensure we're serving the community
well, and operating in an ethical and upright way. We're very proud
to have earned this re-certification! Thomas Lang, Esquire,
Pennsylvania Program Director for Real Alternatives remarked “our
work on behalf of women experiencing a crisis due to unplanned
pregnancies exemplifies both our dedication to our cause, and our
pledge to meet the highest standards of ethical practice. As we
continue forward, we will continue to strive for excellence."
According to Joe Geiger, Executive Director of PANO, "Organizations
which are successful in the certification program should be
commended for their commitment to excellence and integrity." PANO
encourages organizations to participate in the voluntary
certification program because the Standards can help improve your
organization. Mr. Geiger added, "With every new organization that
meets the Standards, we move one step closer to the day when the
public will feel confident that its nonprofit organizations are
acting ethically and are accountable in their program operations,
governance, human resources, financial management, and fundraising
practices."
PANO is the statewide membership organization serving and advancing
the nonprofit sector through leadership, advocacy, education, and
services in order to improve the quality of life in Pennsylvania.
For more information about the Standards for Excellence program or
to request a copy of the Standards, contact PANO directly at (717)
236-8584 or visit www.pano.org.
Real Alternatives has served over 130,000 Pennsylvania women and
their families through its statewide network of counselors at 121
life-affirming sites since its inception in 1995, and is currently
funded at $6.5 million per year. Women experiencing unplanned
pregnancies can find their closest site by calling toll-free at
1-888-LIFE AID or by visiting www.realalternatives.org.
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