Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa’s Ames center is celebrating its 25th anniversary today.

In the spring of 1974, a small group of women started the center in Ames.

Originally it was located near Welch Avenue, but in the last three years it has been relocated to a bigger facility at 2530 Chamberlain St., one block away from the original center.

Machelle Shaffer, fund-raiser and development officer for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, said officials wanted the new facility to be easily accessible to students. “ISU students make up a big part of our base,” Shaffer said.

Krista Noah, Ames center manager, said the center never has been criticized by Ames residents.

“Ames has always been welcoming of Planned Parenthood,” she said. “Any obstacle we’ve faced hasn’t had anything to do with lack of support from Ames.”

Noah said Planned Parenthood is always changing to meet the needs of people in Iowa.

Recently, the Ames center added new programs, such as mid-life services and hormone replacement therapy.

Noah said she hopes the next 25 years will be as successful as the last 25 years. “We look forward to facing challenges in order to help families in Ames,” she said.

In celebration of the anniversary, Paula Mahone, medical director at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, will speak tonight at 7 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1015 North Hyland Ave.

Mahone will be directing her talk toward Iowa State students and would like everyone who is interested to attend, Shaffer said.

Anyone who would like to get involved by volunteering can contact Noah at the Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa’s Ames center at 292-1000.