Komen Oregon criticizes national Planned Parenthood decision

By David Crary, Associated Press Published: Feb 2, 2012 at 7:19 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 3, 2012 at 9:55 AM PDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the renowned breast-cancer charity, faced an escalating backlash Thursday over its decision to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood. Some of Komen's local affiliates are openly upset, and at least one top official has quit, reportedly in protest.

On Friday, the charity reversed the decision and issued an apology.

Komen's Oregon and SW Washington affiliate sent an e-mail to supporters on Thursday evening saying it is "opposed to the new national Komen community grant eligibility policy."

Read the full statement from Komen Oregon

On a national level, Komen has been deluged with negative emails and Facebook postings, accusing it of knuckling under to pressure from anti-abortion groups, since The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that it was halting grants that Planned Parenthood affiliates used for breast exams and related services. The grants totaled $680,000 last year.

Planned Parenthood has been heartened by an outpouring of support in response to the cutoff. In addition to $400,000 in smaller donations from 6,000 people, it is receiving $250,000 from a family foundation in Dallas and a $250,000 pledge announced Thursday by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to match future donations.

In Washington, 26 U.S. senators — all Democrats except for independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont — signed a letter calling on Komen to reconsider its decision.

"It would be tragic if any woman — let alone thousands of women — lost access to these potentially lifesaving screenings because of a politically motivated attack," the senators wrote.

ABC News reported that Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray signed the letter.

Komen's top leaders, in their first news conference since the controversy erupted, denied Planned Parenthood's assertion that the decision was driven by pressure from anti-abortion groups.

"We don't base our decisions on whether one side or the other will be pleased," said Komen's founder and CEO, Nancy Brinker.

Komen has said the decision stemmed from newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations under investigation — affecting Planned Parenthood because of an inquiry by a Republican congressman acting with encouragement from anti-abortion activists.

The Komen Oregon board of directors has sent a letter to the national headquarters asking that they reconsider the policy. They said they believe Komen's policy should be based on "proven wrongdoing."

"It's common for hospitals, universities and medical care providers to be under investigation. In its current form, the Komen community grant eligibility policy would disqualify numerous Komen Affiliate Grantees for funding," Komen Oregon wrote to supporters.

Local indie rock band The Decemberists also prominently withdrew their support for Komen. They had previously helped fundraise for the group. Money they were raising for Komen is now going to Planned Parenthood.

When band leader Colin Meloy was asked if it would make a difference that the local Komen organization group opposed the plan by the national group, he told KATU News it would not make a difference.

Brinker said Thursday that there were additional factors, notably changes in the types of breast-health service providers it wanted to support. However, she said grants would continue this year to three of the 19 Planned Parenthood affiliates — in Denver, California's Orange County, and Waco, Texas — because they served clientele with few other breast-screening options.

A source with direct knowledge of decision-making at Komen's headquarters in Dallas gave a different account, saying the grant-making criteria were adopted with the deliberate intention of targeting Planned Parenthood. The criteria's impact on Planned Parenthood, and its status as the focus of government investigations, were highlighted in a memo distributed to Komen affiliates in December.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, a driving force behind the move was Karen Handel, who was hired by Komen last year as vice president for public policy after losing a campaign for governor in Georgia in which she stressed her anti-abortion views and frequently denounced Planned Parenthood.

Brinker, in an interview with MSNBC, said Handel didn't have a significant role in the policy change.

The source also said that Mollie Williams, who had been Komen's director of community health programs, had resigned in protest over the grant cutoff.

Williams, in an email, said she could not comment on her departure for reasons of professional confidentiality, but she was clear about her views.

"I have dedicated my career to fighting for the rights of the marginalized and underserved," she wrote. "And I believe it would be a mistake for any organization to bow to political pressure and compromise its mission."

Williams said she was saddened by the rift because she admired both Komen and Planned Parenthood.

"I am hopeful their passionate and courageous leaders, Nancy Brinker and Cecile Richards, can swiftly resolve this conflict in a manner that benefits the women they both serve."

Among Komen's affiliates, there were clear signs of discomfort with the decision. The Connecticut branch received scores of supportive emails after expressing frustration about the cutoffs and good will toward Planned Parenthood.

The board of the Arkansas affiliate issued a statement noting that the decision was made at Komen headquarters "without input from affiliates," and called for the new policy to be changed.

"We hope Komen national will reverse its position on granting to organizations under investigation because we feel decisions of this nature should be made only after the investigation is complete," the statement said.

At the Orange County affiliate in Costa Mesa, Calif., executive director Lisa Wolter said there have been lots of exchanges with headquarters.

"We're very troubled by the reaction, and we want to make sure there are clarifications," she said.

The American Association of University Women, in protest over Komen's decision, said it was scrapping plans to offer a Komen Race for the Cure as one of the activities at its upcoming National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

"AAUW is disappointed that some are playing politics with women's health and jeopardizing care for the most vulnerable among us," said Lisa Maatz, the association's director of public policy.

Though comments posted on Komen's Facebook page seemed to be mostly critical of the grant decision, Brinker said donations to the charity had increased since Tuesday.

Komen Oregon statement:

Dear Komen Supporter,

Our local Affiliate has received many inquiries regarding Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s national decision to change its granting guidelines and performance criteria. Specifically, the effect these changes will have on Planned Parenthood and other Komen grantees. Komen Oregon is opposed to the new national Komen community grant eligibility policy. Not only will this decision affect Planned Parenthood, but also any other organization under investigation. The implications will be far reaching, having an adverse effect on numerous grantees. Ultimately it will compromise our ability to provide life-saving access to breast cancer screening and treatment for the most vulnerable women.

•    We, the Affiliate Board of Directors, have officially submitted a letter to Komen Headquarters asking that they reconsider this policy.

•    We believe the Komen community grant eligibility policy should be based on proven wrongdoing. It is common for hospitals, universities and medical care providers to be under investigation. In its current form, the Komen community grant eligibility policy would disqualify numerous Komen Affiliate Grantees for funding. This policy compromises Affiliates' ability to provide life-saving access to breast cancer screening and treatment for women greatest in need.

•    In some service areas across the nation, Planned Parenthood receives funds from Komen to provide breast cancer screenings. But, here in Oregon, this is not the case. In Oregon, we will not see a change in regards to Planned Parenthood. We have been able to help thousands of local uninsured and underinsured women by funding access to breast cancer screening and treatment in partnership with the state of Oregon. In Oregon, Planned Parenthood has not applied for any Komen funds.

•    Locally incorporated, the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure raises funds through events like the Portland and Eugene Race for the Cure. Seventy-five percent of the money raised by the local Affiliate stays in our Oregon and SW Washington service area to fund life-saving programs that create access to breast cancer screening and treatment. The remaining twenty-five percent funds research on a national level.

•    Regrettably, if donations are directed away from the local Affiliate, women right here in our Oregon and SW Washington community will see their access to life-saving, breast-health programs diminish.

•    What we have experienced and witnessed over the last two days is an extraordinary level of passion for these important issues to women. Our commitment to our mission is unwavering. Please feel free to continue to provide your feedback on a local level to info@komenoregon.org.

Sincerely,

Komen Oregon & SW Washington Affiliate Board of Directors