Our founder, Julia “Judy” Kahrl, passed away January 10th surrounded by family and friends. We will miss her deeply and will stand firm in her vision for GRR!

In 2013, Judy gathered her friends at the “Kitchen Table” to talk about the role of elders in the reproductive rights movement. In April of 2020, Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights (GRR!) was recognized by the IRS as a not-for-profit organization. Judy’s vision in uplifting and centering the voices of Grandmothers, GrandOthers and Elders in the movement was critical in ensuring that future generations were able to access abortions and other reproductive health care. Our founder knew that elders had a role to play in the preservation of reproductive rights and justice.

As the world navigates the uncertain future, our focus and vision is clear. We will continue to lift our voices, work intergenerationally and provide accurate reproductive health information to all those that need it. This was Judy’s vision. This is GRR!’s north star!

Dr. Gaylon Alcaraz,
Executive Director

Read GRR!’s press release on our founder’s passing here:
Judy Kahrl, philanthropist and reproductive rights activist, dies at 90

JULIA G. KAHRL, Ph.D. grew up in a household where reproductive health was dinner table conversation. Judy’s father was a pioneer in the field. When she was having her children, she became involved with the movement for women to be able to make decisions about where and how they gave birth. She also worked with La Leche League International as they promoted breastfeeding throughout the US and beyond.

On a trip to Mozambique with Pathfinder International, Judy saw the leadership and influence older women had with young women and recognized the power grandmothers have in a community. Back in the US, Judy shared the anger that people of her generation felt about restrictions on abortion and family planning. Believing that anger could be harnessed on behalf of all grandchildren, Judy founded GRR! in 2013.

Judy graduated from Radcliffe College and earned her Ph.D. in adult education at Ohio State University. Judy and her late husband, Stan Kahrl, have four children and eight grandchildren.