Iowa Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Gives Money to Planned Parenthood 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 8, 2006
Quad Cities, IA (LifeNews.com) — The local Susan G. Komen in the Quad Cities area of Iowa is coming under fire for giving proceeds from its annual race to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Though Komen claims the money will not go to abortions, it is coming under fire for giving the money to a group that is probably responsible for raising the breast cancer risk.
Money from the 2004 Quad-Cities Race for the Cure was given to Planned Parenthood for Muscatine residents.
In 2005 and 2006, Planned Parenthood, in an attempt to cover up its receiving funds from Komen, applied for funds from the breast cancer group by writing grant requests for Louisa County Health, which then passed the funds on to Planned Parenthood.
That upsets Mary Shepherd, a Davenport resident whose mother, a Rock Island native, died of breast cancer in 1977.
Shepherd planned to sign up for the Quad-Cities Race for the Cure in her memory — especially since she is now the same age, 42, as her mother was when she passed away. Then, she discovered Komen’s link to Planned Parenthood.
"Mom was very vocal about her beliefs," Shepherd explained. "She would call radio talk shows and write her Congressmen. She was critical of charities that abused money entrusted to them and would be appalled that the Susan G. Komen Foundation provides grants locally and nationally to Planned Parenthood."
"Planned Parenthood makes money by persuading people to kill their unborn children. It does not educate their victims on the lifelong physical and emotional repercussions of their decision," Shepherd added.
Shepherd also said she was appalled that Komen "tries to discredit studies that show a link between abortion and breast cancer."
Komen has come under fire in the past as Eve Sanchez Silver, a research analyst and Hispanic outreach director for Komen, quit her position in 2004 because the breast cancer group donates so much money to Planned Parenthood.
"The Foundation has done so much for so many women through its programs and research grants," Silver told LifeNews.com at the time. "But this revelation about Planned Parenthood and [Komen], indicates a well thought out funding strategy."
According to former Komen public relations director Kristin Kelly, Komen affiliates awarded 21 grants to their local Planned Parenthood chapters in 2003 totaling more than $475,000.
Sanchez Silver says women deserve to know the recent research showing a link exists and that women who have induced abortions are at greater risk for contracting breast cancer than women who carry the pregnancy to term.
"Black and Latina women have very aggressive breast cancers, often reported very late, often, unhappily, too late," Sanchez Silver told LifeNews.com. "If there are facts to be known they should be broadcasted, not swept under the rug."
Silver said the Planned Parenthood donations came at a time when local Komen affiliates were struggling to find enough funds to keep afloat.
"Our [Komen] Advisory Councils were all aware of grassroots efforts in need of funding all across the country," Sanchez Silver told LifeNews.com.
Sanchez Silver is now the director of Cinta Latina Research, an organization that conducts research into breast cancer issues and their effects on minorities.
