Komen Foundation Reverses Controversial Decision
After stating publicly that it had decided to cut funding to Planned Parenthood clinics that provide abortions, it was as though the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation kicked a hornet's nest in the middle of their own offices. They've done nothing but duck and run since.
Over the past few days, a steady onslaught of negative media coverage and public commentary has grown, with thousands of previous supporters threatening a de-funding of their own. Things only got worse, as a number of Komen's top officials tendered their resignations in a very public way.
Yesterday, it was reported that hackers took to the Komen Foundation site, 26 U.S. Senators sent a discouraging letter, and the public outcry was not letting up.
It has just been announced that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has reversed their controversial decision to immediately cut funding to Planned Parenthood, and has apologized for the move.
"We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve the eligibility to apply for future grants," said a statement issued this morning by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, "while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their community."
Since the retraction, at least one Senator has praised the organization for "depoliticizing" the grant-giving process. But has the Komen Foundation truly backed down completely?
According to follow-up reviews of their press release, Komen founder Nancy Brinker only agreed to continue funding existing grants to Planned Parenthood clinics. There are no promises to continue funding them in the future when existing grants run dry, only to "preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants".
Brinker's statement goes on to say their foundation plans to clear up language related to their grant-giving process, to ensure funding is not given to organizations under investigation for activites which are "criminal and conclusive in nature and not political".
The statement implies that these moves are to remove politics as a motive for future funding decisions. Keeping a positive hope alive, Planned Parenthood issued an email to its supporters today, stating "We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Komen partners, leaders, and volunteers."
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