Yesterday Marisa reported that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund was cutting it’s funds to the Planned Parenthood organization. The Komen org. was “officially” cutting funds to PP because they are currently under investigation by Congress but sources believed that it was due to PP’s abortion services. Now the Komen organization has announced that they have decided to reverse it’s decision after heavy, heavy backlash. Read more after the jump.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced Friday it was reversing its decision to end grants to Planned Parenthood, after facing mounting pressure from pro-choice lawmakers and accusations that the breast cancer awareness organization had bowed to political influences.
“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” the group said in a statement.
The statement from Komen founder Nancy Brinker and the Board of Directors defended the organization’s intentions. The group has claimed all along that its decision was not a political one, and that it was merely setting responsible standards for grant money.
“The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not,” the group said.
Komen announced that it would change that criteria. Originally, Planned Parenthood was disqualified because of criteria that barred funding to groups that are under investigation — Planned Parenthood is being probed by a Republican Florida congressman. Going forward, Komen will not count “political” investigations.
“Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair,” the group’s leadership said, adding that it would continue to fund Planned Parenthood grants and preserve the group’s eligibility for future grants.
The move is sure to draw heated complaints from anti-abortion groups which applauded Komen for its original decision earlier this week.
But Planned Parenthood and its supporters declared victory Friday.
Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, credited the “outpouring of support” over the past week.
“This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological, and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation’s better moments during a contentious political time,” she said. “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.
Sen. Patty Murray called it a “huge win” for women. Murray was among 26 U.S. senators who had written Komen urging the group to reconsider its decision.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also got involved, announcing he would match up to $250,000 in donations to offset the expected funding cuts to Planned Parenthood.
