Support rolls into local Planned Parenthood after Komen cuts funding
Feb 2, 2012, 12:16 PM | Updated: 2:52 pm
Planned Parenthood supporters protest the Susan G. Komen Foundation's cut to funding for Planned Parenthood. (AP photo)
(AP photo)
The Seattle area office of Planned Parenthood is getting inundated with support and donations after the Susan G. Komen Foundation cut funding for the organization as the fallout continues.
The controversy began Wednesday after Komen officials announced it would no longer fund the roughly $680,000 in grants to 19 Planned Parenthood affiliates for breast-cancer screening and other breast-health services. According to Planned Parenthood, its health centers performed more than 4 million breast exams over the past five years, including nearly 170,000 as a result of Komen grants.
“I’ve had people stop driving by and come in and ask ‘is this really going on’ and they’ve been leaving checks at the front desk,” says Kristen Glumdberg-Prossor with Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.
She says a number of people have expressed sadness and anger because they support both organizations and feel forced to choose.
“Politics, political ideology should never come in to women’s health care. And whether it’s cancer screening or whether it’s access to birth control politics should not be a part of it.”
Komen officials vehemently deny abortion rights played a role in cutting new grants to Planned Parenthood, and insist it was because of Congressional investigations into the organization.
In a new statement posted on its website and YouTube, Komen founder Nancy Brinker insisted critics have mischaracterized its decision and warned the controversy could undermine the fight against breast cancer.
But critics far outweigh supporters of the decision and have overwhelmed social media networks.
“I am angry at them. I was considering doing The 3Day again but I would rather support someone that doesn’t let politics make their decisions for them,” says Seattle resident Denise Schwend.
“I talked to another friend today that was on her way home to send Komen a note to let them know she supported both but that her money would all go to PP from now on. Bet this isn’t what they had in mind.”
Planned Parenthood has already received over $600,000 in donations since the news broke, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has pledge $250,000 of his own money to Planned Parenthood. That far surpasses the grant amount provided by Komen annually, meaning no women’s health services will be hampered.
A spokesman for the local Puget Sound Komen affiliate says the organization is reviewing the situation but referred media inquiries to the national office for official comment. The organization posted a statement from its Executive Director on its website yesterday:
Komen Puget Sound’s Commitment to Local Women Unchanged
February 1, 2012
We understand that many supporters of the Puget Sound Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure have questions regarding the national Komen office’s recent implementation of a new grant policy. Please know that our commitment to the breast health of women in our community remains unchanged.
This national revision to grant policy makes any grant applicant ineligible to receive funds if they are under formal investigation for financial or administrative improprieties by federal, state or local authorities. Once the investigation is concluded, and the organization is cleared of any wrong doing, Komen funds can be made available. At Komen Puget Sound, we have a fiduciary responsibility to assure that the funds so loyally invested in our work here at home are put to the best possible use to directly benefit, at the highest level, the women our organization serves. Our shared mission is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by providing vital breast health education, screening and treatment services to all women.
Our organization has invested over $23 million locally to serve the breast health needs of women in our community. In past years, Planned Parenthood has received funding support from Komen Puget Sound to further breast health education, screening and treatment programs for low income and underserved women. We have not received a request from Planned Parenthood for funding consideration this year, a decision made by them before any change in the Komen grant policy. Read a letter from Planned Parenthood explaining why they chose not to apply.
We remain committed to our mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever, and we will continue to support the best and most effective programs in our community to reach underserved women. Our hope is that together we will remain focused on the fight to end breast cancer.
Cheryl Shaw,
Executive Director, Komen Puget Sound
There’s plenty of speculation about the long term damage to Komen’s efforts to raise money for breast cancer research. While there are calls for a boycott of the organization, the real test will be how many people stop donating or refuse to participate in signature events including the Race for the Cure and 3 day walk.
Planned Parenthood’s Glumbderg-Prosser agrees the two local chapters have a strong relationship, and says she and many other Komen supporters hope they don’t have to make a choice between the two, especially since over 90% of Planned Parenthood’s services devoted to basic health services such as breast and cervical cancer screening and nothing to do with abortion.
