interesting…i just emailed Komen to get a clear answer of whether or not the Michigan chapter donates to PP. here is the response:
"Thank you for contacting Susan G. Komen for the Cure regarding your concerns about grants made to Planned Parenthood for breast health services. I am writing on behalf of Dr. Cheryl Perkins, our Senior Clinical Advisor. I hope the following information will be helpful in understanding this issue.
Our mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. We appreciate your interest in this important mission.
The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) review of recent scientific literature reveals that no conclusive evidence exists to suggest that abortion increases a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. For highlights and links to the findings associated with this topic, please visit the Komen for the Cure’s website,
www.komen.org.
The common thread to the individuals we serve is that they are at risk for breast cancer. Komen and its Affiliates do not provide any funding for abortions or for any activities outside the scope of our mission to eradicate breast cancer. And we do not discriminate on age, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability or decisions people have made in their lives.
Seventy-five percent of the money raised by Komen Affiliates stays in their communities to provide grants to local organizations or groups who can best address the gaps identified through the needs assessment. A minimum of 25 percent of the net proceeds from any Komen Affiliate event directly supports Komen and Research Grant Program, which is the nation’s largest private funding source for breast cancer research.
The grants funded by Komen and its Affiliates are specific to Komen’s mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Komen Affiliates are responsible for conducting community needs assessments to identify gaps in breast health and breast cancer services within their respective communities. All Komen Affiliate grant applications are solicited through an open request for proposals and are reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of local physicians, community health professionals, and breast health advocates. Any not-for-profit organization may apply for a grant from Komen to provide services specific to our mission to eradicate breast cancer. The Grants Committee recommends to the Affiliate’s board of directors those grant applications that should be approved for funding, and grant recipients are required to provide detailed reports to the funding Affiliate at least bi-annually.
All community grants are restricted to provide vital breast health education, screening and treatment services for underserved women. The services funded by Komen Affiliates include breast health education programs, screening mammograms, clinical breast examinations, diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds, program promotion, and salary support for outreach workers and registered nurses that provide breast health education and clinical breast examinations.
In many urban and rural areas, Planned Parenthood may be the only source of free or low-cost women’s health screening services (e.g., pap smears, mammograms, clinical breast exams, etc.). Unfortunately, many underserved women find breast cancer at a later and more aggressive stage and have a higher mortality rate from this disease. Some Komen Affiliates provide restricted grants to local Planned Parenthood clinics that offer vital breast health services for underserved women in their communities. These services often help to provide otherwise unavailable breast screening for women ages 40 to 50, which may not be covered by the Centers for Disease Control’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Thank you for your support and your commitment to our mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease."
first of all “no conclusive evidence” doesn’t convince me that there’s not a link b/wn breast cancer and abortion. secondly, there’s no mention of a link b/wn breast cancer and birth control. how could an organization trying to eliminate breast cancer give in any way to an organization that might be causing it?
also, i don’t see why a woman that is “underserved” would not qualify for the CDC’s breast cancer and cervical cancer program. according to the guidelines, i’m in the “underserved” population financially, and i’m not poor.
lastly, my mom recently died from breast cancer-inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and severe type. (and only 25% of their money is going towards research?) however, i still would never give to komen or any other organization affiliated with planned parenthood in any way.
