Leslie Aun, Susan G. Komen V.P. Of Communication, Resigns

By MARK HRYWNA, The NonProfit Times

Another key executive at Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s national headquarters is leaving the organization after a public relations debacle regarding funding to Planned Parenthood of America.

Leslie Aun, who as vice president of marketing and communications served as the lead spokesperson for the organization, will leave Komen May 15 to become vice president of communications at Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP). She will become at least the sixth executive to leave the organization, either at headquarters or at the affiliate level, since the Planned Parenthood controversy exploded four months ago.

In an announcement released today, Washington, D.C.-based VPP said Aun will lead communications efforts as it begins “a new phase of work to improve the lives of children and youth in the National Capital region.”

Komen has had its challenges in recent months, but Aun said the situation regarding Planned Parenthood funding did not play a role in her leaving the organization. “It’s still a wonderful organization,” she said, and is re-focusing back on its mission and great work, adding that she still plans to participate in the Walk for the Cure next month’s Walk for the Cure event in Washington, D.C. She cited the “great opportunity” that was presented by VPP, as well as its extensive work related to children as the primary factor in leaving.

As vice president of marketing and communications, Aun was responsible for directing Komen’s public relations, branding, advertising, interactive marketing and event planning teams. Prior to joining Komen in March 2011, Aun was vice president of communications for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and chief communications officer for Special Olympics.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Komen has seen several executives leave the organization in recent months, both at the affiliate level and headquarters, as well as some turnover and changes to the national organization’s board.

Among those who have left or already announced their intention of leaving are:

--Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron, CEO of Komen Greater NYC
--Christine McDonald, CEO Oregon and SW Washington affiliate
--Katrina McGhee, executive vice president and chief marketing officer
--Nancy Macgregor, vice president, global networks
--Joanna Newcomb, director of affiliate strategy and planning

In addition, Dr. LaSalle Leffall stepped down as chairman to become a regular board member, citing increased duties as provost at Howard University. Robert Taylor, a founding board member who returned to the board after several years, replaced him as chairman. Eric Brinker, the son of founder Nancy Brinker, gave up his seat to add a second affiliate representative to the 10-member board. He remains a general ambassador for Komen.

This story originally appeared in The NonProfit Times.

Comments

[keezze]

06:31 PM on 05/05/2012

Many will suffer because of this ruling. This blow to women health and rights is a abberation. When zelots has their hands in politics the common people suffer. The rich will not be effected. But suffering is part of the human condition. When enough people suffer they will rebel or seek to cause changes. They will realize that only voting for those who truly care and represent them and yheir needs are worthy of their vote.

[Cancer5]

08:15 PM on 05/04/2012

Hi all- Someone really should to step up to the plate and operate a sincere organization that will do exactly what it states it will do for those with cancers. As a cancer researcher it is certain a true need for such an organization not just for women, but males as well. Please LIKE me on facebook, add comments, suggestions, messages, contacts, pics, etc. @ www.facebook.com/laboragainstcancers. I promise to build based on honesty and the need of cancer victims. I will also get back to you asap should you have any questions. I was wondering if anyone recall the name of the CEO that left Susan Komen some time ago following Komen's decision to cut off and then reinstate funding to PP? Thanks so much. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[pacrimco]

12:22 PM on 05/04/2012

Like rats from a sinking ship, they scurry down the lines. It's always about survival, is it not. Altruism, to rear of the bus please.

[AnonymouseFTW]

11:56 AM on 05/04/2012

Good! The Komen foundation has long been a shell for doling out money to preferred friends instead of research and actual breast cancer related matters...the more people who realize they are shady and leave, the better.

There are better places to donate money that will ACTUALLY spend it on breast cancer research...instead of just 15% of it.

[Robin Linck]

08:49 PM on 05/07/2012

Abortions cause breast cancer! Thttp://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james3.htm alk about your non sequiter! Women who have abortions are 50% more likely than women who have not had abortions to contract breast cancer. If the abortion takes place before 18 years of age, the risk increases to 150%. Multiple abortions increase the risk to 600%. So tell me why would I support an organization that donates money to another organization that actively pushes abortions that cause the very dreaded disease that they are ostensibly against?

[AnonymouseFTW]

10:50 PM on 05/07/2012

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/MoreInformation/is-abortion-linked-to-breast-cancer

Not only does this article state that everything you said is WRONG, but even if your magical elf theory was correct, it would also apply to women who have miscarriages and stillborn children. Are you getting your pitchfork ready to cut funding to them, too?

[biznesschic]

11:41 AM on 05/04/2012

As an Washington DC insider, who has had dealings SGK, I can tell you that they are a victim of their own success. They became too entangled with corporations, and had favors to grant. They neglected their primary donor base, middle class Democratic leading women, and paid the price.

[CountTheVotes]

11:39 AM on 05/04/2012

There is a GOP Talking Point Lie Poster (likely paid by faux/koch brohers to post those lies), posting numerical data by cherry picking numbers to try to justify his lies about Planned Parenthood. so if you want to see real PP data for yourself, click below:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA_FY_11_990_-_public_disclosure.pdf
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4338

[mzkitti]

11:19 AM on 05/04/2012

Cops: Dad Stuffs 6-Month-Old Son’s Body In Fridge
Houston, Texas 5/3/12

NO RIGHT-TO-LIFERS WERE SEEN AT THE SCENE,.

Neither were any right-to-lifers seen when recently a five day old child was killed because his father bashed his head against a brick wall
Or how a bout the newborn left to starve to death ???
Do you want to hear more about your obscession with abortion. ?? Where are you when these innocent children need your help? Sitting on your Bible??

[sammi 56]

11:56 AM on 05/04/2012

Sitting on the Bible is exactly what they do! Christians they are not.

[mzkitti]

11:08 AM on 05/04/2012

Some of you will keep yelling about abortion until you gasp your last breath.. and even then you will never realize that unless it is you who are or are not getting an abortion it simply is not your business. NOT YOUR BUSINESS..... what about that is it you do not understand?
The Law passed.. the majority of citizens said it is always a womans right to make this decision and have the precedure if she needs it. Apparently you do not understand that either. You are not an understanding person, are you ? Third grade education??

SO BUTT OUT .Reportered in the Houston Chronicle yesterday... on any day in just this State of Texas there are thirty-thousand children in foster care. 30,000. Children who have been unwanted, abused, thrown out, exploited and ignored... most of these children will live in six different foster homes until they are eighteen years old. They will be loney, left out of society, only partially educated.. with no real hope for a decent life.

That is a project you need to look into. Now. Today.

But, of course, you will not because it is too easy to sit on your Bible and yell. Those children in foster homes deserve your remarks and certainly your attention. You should be ashamed... you take the easiest way out to make yourself heard.
Tax money has NEVER paid for abortions in this country. SO SHUT UP

[KayCare]

04:24 PM on 05/08/2012

Exactly. If children are so important, why are we not more concerned with children getting healthcare & a great education so they can have the opportunities they deserve. Why are people advocating for mandatory birth but allows those same children to be hungry and put in terrible situations?

I volunteered at CPS in Erath County and when I went to Austin the representative of Erath (Miller) was pushing the sonogram bill & handguns on campus bill. Support for the youngest citizens? Nothing.

[LkeToRead]

11:01 AM on 05/04/2012

Why do all these people have to be fired? Can't they just be reprimanded?

[emlr]

10:58 AM on 05/04/2012

And then there is Komen's alliance with Gulnara Karimova the dictator's daughter.
http://wonkette.com/471559/susan-g-komen-and-the-dictators-daughter-had-a-lovely-cure-for-the-race

[TexianLife]

10:56 AM on 05/04/2012

I know that I & many others no longer support the Komen foundation....if you want to donate money, then give it to Planned Parenthood or some other cancer organization.....just not Komen.

[Nae12]

10:54 AM on 05/04/2012

Komen excutives made a decision to side with GOP/TP and not share, provide for PP. because they provide abortion. Ok...then let the GOP/TP with all their billions and millions provide as one of the Nillionairs and many others we will provide and send our donations to PP.
Seems Komen made their decsions and they are having problems sticking to that decisions.

[JEP57]

10:51 AM on 05/04/2012

There is a lot of anger at Komen for pulling their funding for PP. The perception is that they did it because of the abortion issue. Then it's pointed out that abortion is only 3% of services provided by Planned Parenthood. The CDC states that approximately 50 million medically induced abortions have been performed since 1973 so I think that some mathematical gymnastics come into play with that 3% figure. Komen did the right thing.

[Chazz280V]

11:04 AM on 05/04/2012

PP is not the only agency to provides abortion services. Their are other independent clinics run by others not associated at all with PP to provide abortion services.

[Chazz280V]

11:12 AM on 05/04/2012

"There"

[Sesame2009]

04:10 AM on 05/05/2012

1) First of all, medically induced abortion doesn't necessarily mean "elective".  Many abortions are medically induced out of necessity because of things like fetal demise, ectopic location (e.g. in the cervix), poor placentation, chromosomal aberrations incompatible with life, molar pregnancy etc... and most of these are done in a hospital setting.  

2) Secondly, there are plenty of organizations AND hospitals that do elective abortions.

[dfranz]

10:50 AM on 05/04/2012

The Komen Foundation made a mistake thinking that no one would notice their partisan stance towards Planned Parenthood. Once that was discovered they lost the support of liberals and progressives and seem surprised that so many women are angry at them. Once your brand is soiled it's almost impossible to recover.

[solid centrist]

10:49 AM on 05/04/2012

The Komen organization diluted their main focus when they mixed in a heavy dose of right wing politics. They lost the contributions of this family of a breast cancer survivor. We had made 100% of our donations to non-profit causes to Komen for at least ten years. Now, other more deserving causes including Planned Parenthood receive our donations. There are thousands of other families who have pulled their financial support from Komen.