Susan G. Komen Foundation Awards Grants To Planned Parenthood

The Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure will fund at least 17 Planned Parenthood affiliates in 2012.

The number of grants is about the same number as last year, although the total value of the grants is still being worked out, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The Komen Foundation found itself in the center of controversy in January when it decided, under pressure from conservatives who oppose abortion, that Planned Parenthood was ineligible to receive grants to fund breast exams. In the wake of backlash, many of the group's top officials resigned, and Komen promised to consider Planned Parenthood for future grants. Many of the races organized by Komen have seen drops in donations and participation.

The grants are awarded by Komen's 122 local affiliates on the basis of need. Additional grants may be awarded later in the year.

“We know that people have been upset and concerned about recent events,” spokeswoman Leslie Aun told the Post. “We've acknowledged our missteps and apologized. People need to know that we have not and never will walk away from women in need. There is no one filling the gap in services the way that Komen is.”

Planned Parenthood in Southeastern Virginia was one a half-dozen affiliates whose requests were turned down. But officials said they didn't think the decision was politically motivated. The Komen Tidewater affiliate received nearly $200,000 more of requests than it had funds available.

“I really think, based on conversations we’ve had informally in our follow-up, that they gave us a fair shake,” Pat Heard, chief executive of the Planned Parenthood in Southeastern Virginia, told the Post.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[lynniemiller]

10:13 PM on 05/03/2012

I will never donate to Komen again. They caved to pressure from Cliff Sterns, who is notoriously against womens' rights. Also, their executives are making an inordinate amount of money at a "non profit" organization.

I am delighted that they will again, support Planned Parenthood screening endeavors.
However, Komen is no longer a great foundation, in my opinion.

[CR90]

11:07 PM on 04/17/2012

Congratulations, liberals, you've politicized a fight for the cure of breast cancer. Pat yourselves on the back.

[Izzy66]

11:24 AM on 04/14/2012

As women, our greatest freedom is our ability to control our reproduction. Without that, every other aspect of our lives is affected. When any group or gender attacks what all women feel is an indisputable personal treasure we have an instant and seminal response.
You've frightened us Komen, along with dozens of other conservatives across the U.S. in recent months.
I'm afraid you've made an indelible mark in the psyches of too many women that can never fully trust your organization again. You should have vetted your executives more carefully.

[PTAOfficerforObama]

10:08 AM on 04/14/2012

Well that is nice Komen, but I am STILL giving the $$ I was giving to you directly to PP.

[Izzy66]

11:28 AM on 04/14/2012

fanned for your micro bio and comment ;)

[Ardessa]

10:07 AM on 04/14/2012

My job used to hold fundraising events for the walks, and we had a team that walked. We decided to donate straight to PP this year. When we announced that we doubled the money from last year. we made it over the 6K mark for the first time ever.

[plzchuteme]

08:21 AM on 04/14/2012

If you haven't watched the Handel video, do so, and if you have any doubts about where she is coming from, and where she planned to go, this video should erase all doubts. For someone who is overly fond of the phrase, "make no mistake," she failed miserably at taking her own advice. Watch her eyes and her mouth. This is a cold woman who does not have the ability to see beyond her own narrow view of righteousness.

[lensamy]

08:06 AM on 04/14/2012

Too little.. too late! Sorry. Im already donating my money to somebody else. It takes more than a couple of thousands of dollars to wash away the incompetence and stupidity of your organization.

[sdmills27]

03:23 AM on 04/14/2012

The pro-abortion movement:

The real war on women.

[Ardessa]

10:04 AM on 04/14/2012

Do your research, the money granted to PP from Komen goes towards breast cancer research, mamograms and education. Right Wing nuts always try to make more of it than it is. Plus the real war on women is that the republican's continue to try to put women's rights down. Then try to cover it up by saying there is no war. But I say LET them keep going.. they will lose a lot of seats because of it.

[PTAOfficerforObama]

10:07 AM on 04/14/2012

Fanned. Well put.

[sdmills27]

04:35 PM on 04/14/2012

What does this have to do with my statement?

Surely you realize that money is fungible right?

Not as many seats as the Democrats have lost by allowing innocent children to be terminated.

[BVictor1]

02:53 AM on 04/14/2012

I'd like to thank SGK for exposing itself for what it really was; just another corporatist front group. Not the donations can be funneled directly to the source through PP; an organization that's not out to make a buck, but to actually help women.

With what they did, it's hard to tell where the true cancer lies...

[Mark S Raymond]

02:43 AM on 04/14/2012

I find it somewhat sad that an organization that did as much as SGK to raise awareness of breast cancer is probably going down over this. That being said I’ll never give them a dime.

[Caseybug]

02:35 AM on 04/14/2012

Sorry SGK. You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.

[ltague]

12:53 AM on 04/14/2012

Too Late. I'll donate straight to Planned Parenthood & cancer research facilities.
You showed weakness giving in to an ultra-conservative board member & didn't have the sense to figure out what she was doing & how it was going to harm the VERY women you claim to care so much about.

[toddnjean]

12:32 AM on 04/14/2012

They have walks coming up and don't want to loose anyone people slaving for them to make those big bucks giving away the money earned with bleeding feet do they.

[bgofca]

12:13 AM on 04/14/2012

it's too late; we've seen their true red colors and we won't support them anymore.

[arizonasoccermom]

12:42 AM on 04/14/2012

and they are running in fear over losing all that money from their "Pink" merchandise.

[ltague]

12:55 AM on 04/14/2012

Good! Maybe they'll think next time.

[TOPCAT711]

12:05 AM on 04/14/2012

band-aid