“A Series of Unfortunate Events” author Lemony Snicket is willing to fund Planned Parenthood, even if the government isn’t.
The writer — real name Daniel Handler — tweeted Monday that he and wife Lisa Brown will be donating $1 million to the women’s health organization because they’ve “been very fortunate, and good fortune should be shared with noble causes.”
Planned Parenthood was quick to thank the couple for the donation, and tweeted back, “Thank you so much for your support!”
According to Buzzfeed, Brown and her husband have been donating to the organization for years.
“It’s a great organization that has provided top-quality health care for countless women and families in our lives,” Brown said. “This year, Planned Parenthood has gone through a series of unfortunate events, and it felt right to make our support more public and more dramatic.”
Although the family planning clinic has been a hot-button issue for years, it has come under intensified scrutiny this year after videos showing officials speaking casually about what to do with tissues of aborted fetuses went viral.
Planned Parenthood officials apologized for their tone but denied they discussed illegally selling fetal tissue for profit, as the videos suggested. The apology has not stopped Republican lawmakers from trying to defund the institution of its $528 million in federal funds.
On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards called the videos in question “heavily doctored” while testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
People aware of the donation were quick to react on Twitter.
.@lisabrowndraws & I are giving 1 million dollars to @PPFA. We’ve been very fortunate, and good fortune should be shared with noble causes.
— Daniel Handler (@DanielHandler) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler @lisabrowndraws Thank you so much for your support! — Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler @lisabrowndraws @PPFA as somebody who has badly needed PP’s services, I can’t thank you enough.
— Maggie Wauklyn (@simplykumquat) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler Thank you, on behalf of all the people in my life that have benefited from PP over the years (including myself). — F.J. Tice (@ElctrcRngr) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler that’s a Virtous Financial Decision
— Pen Pjork (@grlshavcooties1) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler @lisabrowndraws @PPFA Thank you for standing with women! — Joy Engel (@joyengel) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler @lisabrowndraws @PPFA Daniel and Lisa, you are… well, life-changing and life-saving, among other things. Thank you.
— Elizabeth Partridge (@epartridge) September 28, 2015
@DanielHandler @lisabrowndraws @PPFA A noble act and yes, a noble cause. Hat is off to you. — Lin Oliver (@linoliver) September 28, 2015