Komen Foundation Only Preserving “Some” Lives?

Strong, fulfilled, joyful women fill the screen of the advertisement for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk showing women from different backgrounds uniting to participate in "60 miles of purpose." While all walk to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the reasons for participating vary. Some walk to help find a cure for Breast Cancer, many walk in memory of those taken by the disease, while still others walk to celebrate the survival of loved ones or their own survival - the superheroes of the walk. They walk because, according to the ad, "everyone deserves a lifetime."

These motives are pure, and their willingness to take action is admirable. However, what the Susan G. Komen does with their support is questionable. The foundation that claims to believe that "everyone deserves a lifetime," gives thousands of dollars in grants to Planned Parenthood. In 2008, the Orange County affiliate of Komen for the Cure alone gave $1.3 million to 19 local nonprofit organizations including Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardo Counties.¹ From April 1, 2005, to March 31, 2006, Susan G. Komen affiliates gave $711,485 to Planned Parenthood for breast screenings.2 Screenings are necessary and worthy of Susan G. Komen's investment, but giving the money to Planned Parenthood is not.

After receiving these funds from the Komen Foundation in 2006, Planned Parenthood turned around and spent $289,750 on abortion procedures.³ This excludes the amount of money they use to promote abortion. On their website, Planned Parenthood proclaims, "Abortion is a safe and legal way for women to choose to end pregnancy." They urge women to have abortions if, "a woman is not ready to become a parent, feels that having a baby now would make it too difficult to work, go to school or care for her children," or because, "she doesn't want anyone to know she has had sex or is pregnant."

Eve Sanchez-Silver is a former Foundation National Hispanic/Latin Advisory Council member who resigned after discovering the connection between Komen and Planned Parenthood. Sanchez-Silver states, "Susan G. Komen's concern for the health of women is now parallel to Planned Parenthood's concern for the health of the children that they abort."⁴ Planned Parenthood is not an advocate for life. They advocate for women to choose to end life because a baby does not fit in their plans.

This is not the attitude I witnessed in the cancer community when I had cancer seven years ago. I spent six months in a cancer hospital's pediatric ward, and what I saw there was an attitude of hope. I did not see doctors and nurses throw up their hands and refuse to treat a child because the treatment would make the child's life difficult. I did not see parents walk away because the child's illness would make it hard for them to work, go to school or care for their other children.

I saw nurses and doctors, who have seen the effects of cancer more times then you could count, tearfully look upon a patient as if it was the first time they saw human suffering. I saw a mother holding out her hands to her bald baby, encouraging it to take its first steps as the father followed closely with the baby's attached IV pole. I saw relatives sitting by a child day after day, crying while the child slept, parents leaving jobs and other children behind, all for the purpose of trying to save their one child's life. These are scenes from the cancer community.

Most men and women who walk for Komen have witnessed similar scenes, and they walk because they cherish life. Life is valued, and it is worth struggling to preserve. By giving to Planned Parenthood, we threaten the very thing we walk to protect. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live."

Contact the Susan G. Komen Affiliates that gave grants to Planned Parenthood in 2008 (listed below) and ask them to stop giving to Planned Parenthood, so that everyone can have the chance to start a lifetime.

Aspen Affiliate

P.O. Box 4810

Aspen, CO 81612

Phone: (970) 920-0250

Fax: (970) 920-3571

E-mail Address: info@komenaspen.org

Austin Affiliate

P.O. Box 2164

Austin, TX 78768

Phone: (512) 473-0900

Fax: (512) 473-0999

E-mail Address: info@komenaustin.org

Boise Affiliate

6901 W. Emerald, Suite 209

Boise, ID 83704

Phone: (208) 384-0013

Fax: (208) 384-0014

E-mail Address: info@komenboise.org

Central and South Jersey Affiliate

Two Princess Road, Suite D

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Phone: (609) 896-1201

Fax: N/A

E-mail Address: N/A

Central New Mexico Affiliate

P.O. Box 30047

Albuquerque, NM 87190

Phone: (505) 265-4649

Fax: (505) 265-4651

E-mail Address: cnmed@lobo.net

Connecticut Affiliate

350 Church Street

Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: (860) 728-5500

Fax: (860) 728-1500

E-mail Address: info@komenct.org

Eastern Washington Affiliate

P.O. Box 8717

Spokane, WA 99203

Phone: (509) 363-8188

Fax: (509) 363-8189

E-mail Address: info@komeneasternwashington.org

El Paso Affiliate

1700 Murchison, Suite 207

El Paso, TX 79902

Phone: (915) 533-4433

Fax: (915) 533-4464

E-mail Address: elpaso@elpasokomen.org

Grand Rapids Affiliate

25 Sheldon Blvd SE, Suite 416

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Phone: (616) 752-8262

Fax: (616) 459-8460

E-mail Address: contactus@komengr.org

Greater New York City Affiliate

341 West 38th Street, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Phone: (212) 560-9590

Fax: (212) 560-9598

E-mail Address: info@komennyc.org

Los Angeles County Affiliate

1000 East Walnut Ave, Suite 123

Pasadena, CA 91106

Phone: (626) 577-2700

Fax: (626) 577-4744

E-mail Address: komenlacounty@komenlacounty.org

Madison Affiliate

P.O. Box 44531

Madison, WI 53744-4531

Phone: (608) 836-1083

Fax: (608) 203-5189

E-mail Address: info@komenmadison.org

Milwaukee Affiliate

9200 W. Wisconsin Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53226

Phone: (414) 805-2900

Fax: (414) 805-2877

E-mail Address: information@komenmilwaukee.org

NC Triangle Affiliate

2314 S. Miami Blvd., Suite 154

Durham, NC 27703

Phone: (919) 493-CURE

Fax: (919) 361-8049

E-mail Address: info@komennctriangle.org

Northern Nevada Affiliate

P.O. Box 20868

Reno, NV 89515-0868

Phone: (775) 355-7311

Fax: (775) 355-7245

E-mail Address: northnvkomen@yahoo.com

Orange County Affiliate

3191-A Airport Loop Dr.

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Phone: (714) 957-9157

Fax: (714) 957-9155

E-mail Address: komen@komenoc.org

Philadelphia Affiliate

125 South 9th Street, Suite 202

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Phone: (215) 238-8900

Fax: (215) 238-1419

E-mail Address: info@komenphiladelphia.org

Salt Lake City Affiliate

P.O. Box 522320

Salt Lake City, UT 84152-2320

Phone: (801) 446-2980

Fax: N/A

E-mail Address: tkelley@komenslc.org

South Florida Affiliate

1309 North Flagler Drive, 5th Floor

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone: (561) 514-3020

Fax: (561) 514-3531

E-mail Address: info@komensouthflorida.org

Southeast Iowa Affiliate

708 Edwards Drive

Ottumwa, IA 52501

Phone: (641) 980-8812

Fax: (641) 683-2850

E-mail Address: lynn.schulte@mchsi.com

Melanie Palazzo, Assistant to the President, is a cancer survivor and pro-life advocate.