Since the Susan G. Komen Foundation seems determined to shoot itself in the foot, having the makers of the Walther P-22 handgun as a corporate sponsor, may be the best idea the foundation has had all week.
Recapping the drama; SGKF announced earlier this week that it would no longer provide Planned Parenthood with grants that in prior years amounted to some $680,000. Not a large number in the context of SGKF's annual budget estimated at $300 million. Komen founder, Nancy Brinker, initially stated that this was standard operating procedure resulting from a Congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood.
Until reports surfaced that the SGKF continues to provide funding for Penn State University- also under Federal investigation. Ms. Brinker then issued a statement saying that, actually, the decision had been based on the determination that breast exams were not within Planned Parenthood's core competence, and the resources could be better deployed elsewhere. Today, Ms. Brinker, has announced a rescission of the decision to rescind contributions, essentially saying that it was all a big mistake and overblown.
The damage may be irreversible, however. Steve Shirley, director of the Spinal and Sports Care Clinic in Spokane, WA., serving 5,000 patients, and a supporter of the Komen Foundation, intends to send a letter to his employees and patients withdrawing the clinic's support writing, "There is simply no place for imposing religious ideology on the individual healthcare choices for women." Sacramentan, Debe Kieffer, put it this way, 'Over the years, there has always been a check payable to Komen each May. No more. Now the checks will be made out to Planned Parenthood."
All charities "rely on the kindness of strangers." How kind will those strangers be when the charity in question, itself, seems to be unkind. Sadly, women everywhere are the losers here. The Susan G. Komen Foundation's 'Race For the Cure', may have difficulty going forward, while it is so busy backpedaling.
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