Community Corner

Dust Up Between Komen Foundation/ Planned Parenthood Affects SB

The Susan G. Komen's Foundation for the Cure's decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood has affected all of San Bernardino County, but not in the way you might think.

An announcement that the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure would stop funding Planned Parenthood programs was not supposed to affect San Bernardino County.

The money the foundation provided locally for breast health services went to the Orange County clinics. But it turned out that it did affect San Bernardino, said Stephanie Kight, a vice president with Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties.

“With the additional funds that we have raised during this brouhaha, we actually think we’re going to be able to serve more women in San Bernardino than ever with breast health care with education as well as clinical breast exams and diagnostic service,” Kight said.

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And it’s all due to the outrage sparked by the foundation’s decision. Nationwide, women are taking it personally, Kight said.

“We’ve literally had women walk into clinics making donations toward our breast healthcare programs,” Kight said.

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On Tuesday Komen officials told the Associated Press they would stop funding Planned Parenthood because a new national policy barred support for organizations under government investigation. According to the Washington Post, a House committee began a probe in September into Planned Parenthood’s compliance with federal restrictions on funding abortions.

But Planned Parenthood officials claim it has more to do with the foundation caving to pressure by anti-abortion advocates.

Following the announcement, Planned Parenthood officials launched a Breast Health Emergency Fund to offset a loss of revenue. A $250,000 gift from the Amy and Lee Fikes’ foundation will go to help fund that.

But just as the health organization braced itself, the public sent the foundation a message of its own.

Tait Sye, a spokesman for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told the Washinton Post the health organization had raised more than $400,000 from more than 6,000 online donors as of Wednesday afternoon, compared with the 100 to 200 donations it receives on an average day. And more donations were still coming in, Sye added.

Coincidentally, Planned Parenthood held a ribbon cutting today for San Bernardino’s expanded health clinic, Kight said. It is now double its original size, she said. It means they are funded and equipped to help more women, Kight said. And a third health center will open in July in Victorville.

“But while we may be the recipients of this gift, it’s really a gift from one woman to another to make sure she gets the breast health care that she needs,” Kight said.


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