I don’t support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I would love to. But I can’t, in all conscience, support an organization that gives money to Planned Parenthood purely for political reasons.
By now, everyone is familiar with the story of Planned Parenthood and the Komen foundation. Just a few months ago, for a reason that make perfect sense—Planned Parenthood does not do mammograms only gives referrals for them—the Komen foundation was going to stop giving grant money to the nation’s largest abortion provider. But Planned Parenthood, ever greedy, went on the attack.
Apparently, the $1 billion dollars they rake in every year isn’t enough.
Planned Parenthood’s media attacks were non-stop, forcing the Komen Foundation to cave to the pressure and leading to the resignation of Karen Handel, Komen’s vice president for public policy.
Current media reports are focused on the potential fiscal impact Komen’s decision to pull the funding and the subsequent public relations fiasco will have on the organization’s ability to fundraise.
And the Komen Foundation just announced that it would be giving grants to at least 17 of Planned Parenthood’s 79 affiliates. In 2011, the grants totaled $680,000, less than one percent of the total Planned Parenthood draws in. But for PPFA, any opportunity to go on the attack and whitewash their image to make it appear as if their number one goal is protecting women’s health and not pushing abortion on demand is a golden opportunity for them.
Of course, everyone assumes that any downturns in fundraising will be as a direct result of Komen’s decision to stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood. But there may be another reason.
Many pro-lifers across the country may not have realized that there was any relationship between the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood. Now that they do, they will likely choose to stop sending their hard-earned money only to see it go to Planned Parenthood.
How do I know?
I have known for years that the Komen Foundation has given grants to Planned Parenthood. I do not send my pink yogurt lids in, I do not sponsor walkers for the Komen Foundation, I do not buy the pink kitchen utensils advertising that a portion of the proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. All of which is a real shame, I would love to sponsor a walker, send my pink yogurt lids in and maybe buy something pink (even though I’m not a fan of the color)—if it means finding a cure. My mother had a breast cancer scare and I worried over my first mammogram recently. I can only imagine the fear that strikes a woman when she hears the words, “You have breast cancer.”
But higher on my list of priorities is the senseless loss of life that occurs in an abortion. And I think it is financially irresponsible for Komen to give money to another organization that only does referrals.
I realize that Planned Parenthood is a big bully but the Komen Foundation should fight back and support organizations that actually provide mammograms and avoid the appearance of supporting abortion.
I want the Komen Foundation to know: I have not nor will I ever send money or donations to the foundation as long as it supports Planned Parenthood with grants. Until that happens, my money will go to worthy causes that help others without supporting the nation’s largest abortion provider. I have a list of organizations I regularly support that pursue research to cure autism and provide opportunities for people with special needs. All can use my support and get it.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is crossed off my list.
LifeNews.com Note: Laura Echevarria is a LifeNews.com opinion columnist. She is the former Director of Media Relations and a spokesperson for the National Right to Life Committee and has been a radio announcer, freelance writer active in local politics.
