Susan G Komen and Planned Parenthood
I did not investigate any of this until SGK "caved" today and issued a "retraction." Then I was like, huh, what does this even mean?
In reality? Nothing. SGK's statement just said they wouldn't say what they'll do with 2013's grant until the investigation is complete. Being it's February 2012, they are at the luxury of being able to do that. Even with the original statment of not funding planned parenthood any further, they were going to continue paying out their original agreement, which I believe covered all if not most of 2012.
Now, the reason that SGK decided not to fund PP.
It had nothing to do with abortion.
It's not like SGK woke up one night and said, "gasp! Planned Parenthood provides abortions!" This was never a secret. So all the prolifers (of which I am a member) out there that got all excited and started rethinking their donations to SGK ... they shouldn't have. They didn't have a moral come uppance or anything like that. It was all business.
SGK pays PP for mammagrams and other early detection exams that can help women fight breast cancer. Early detection means you have a better chance of survival, which is what SGK wants. So. They send a grant over to PP. The original hope that was that PP would then provide those services themselves, but they don't. Not in all cases. PP takes that grant and then sends it on to mamogram providers and then refers patients. Which is great. Except that they probably take an admisitrative cut off the top.
So SGK decides initially, since PP is under investigation for mismanagement of funds and a lot of other things, and they aren't providing the services directly, we can cut out the intermediary and send the funds directly to the providers. More bang for our buck.
Again, they didn't wake up one day and decide abortion was wrong. Or if they did ... no. They just didn't.
Their original decision wasn't political. But by changing their decision, and changing their own internal rules, it has become political. They made a public relations decision based on media and political pressure.
If PP is found guilty of any wrong doing, we will be right back here. I have no idea if PP will or will not be able to prove that 90% of their activities are concentrated on preventing abortion. I know what my gut says; they are full of garbage.
But what do I know. Maybe they are the altruistic saints they portray themselves to be and SGK can keep sending them money from now until eternity. But even if they don't, it's not because SGK had a change of heart about abortion, it's a business decision.
And honestly, SGK is not my favorite charity. They are a business. And they make a lot of money. It's a not for profit business, sure. That's what it says on their tax forms. But their CEO makes half a million dollars and only 20% of their revenue goes to research. Everything else is admin and education. And by education I bet that includes the pink we see everywhere and the huge fundraising events. I know it does.
I have friends and family that have recently battled breast cancer. Everyone is touched by this horrible disease, just like they say. But I have to believe there's a better charity that can do more with my money.
And planned parenthood would never get my money. But you know that already.
In reality? Nothing. SGK's statement just said they wouldn't say what they'll do with 2013's grant until the investigation is complete. Being it's February 2012, they are at the luxury of being able to do that. Even with the original statment of not funding planned parenthood any further, they were going to continue paying out their original agreement, which I believe covered all if not most of 2012.
Now, the reason that SGK decided not to fund PP.
It had nothing to do with abortion.
It's not like SGK woke up one night and said, "gasp! Planned Parenthood provides abortions!" This was never a secret. So all the prolifers (of which I am a member) out there that got all excited and started rethinking their donations to SGK ... they shouldn't have. They didn't have a moral come uppance or anything like that. It was all business.
SGK pays PP for mammagrams and other early detection exams that can help women fight breast cancer. Early detection means you have a better chance of survival, which is what SGK wants. So. They send a grant over to PP. The original hope that was that PP would then provide those services themselves, but they don't. Not in all cases. PP takes that grant and then sends it on to mamogram providers and then refers patients. Which is great. Except that they probably take an admisitrative cut off the top.
So SGK decides initially, since PP is under investigation for mismanagement of funds and a lot of other things, and they aren't providing the services directly, we can cut out the intermediary and send the funds directly to the providers. More bang for our buck.
Again, they didn't wake up one day and decide abortion was wrong. Or if they did ... no. They just didn't.
Their original decision wasn't political. But by changing their decision, and changing their own internal rules, it has become political. They made a public relations decision based on media and political pressure.
If PP is found guilty of any wrong doing, we will be right back here. I have no idea if PP will or will not be able to prove that 90% of their activities are concentrated on preventing abortion. I know what my gut says; they are full of garbage.
But what do I know. Maybe they are the altruistic saints they portray themselves to be and SGK can keep sending them money from now until eternity. But even if they don't, it's not because SGK had a change of heart about abortion, it's a business decision.
And honestly, SGK is not my favorite charity. They are a business. And they make a lot of money. It's a not for profit business, sure. That's what it says on their tax forms. But their CEO makes half a million dollars and only 20% of their revenue goes to research. Everything else is admin and education. And by education I bet that includes the pink we see everywhere and the huge fundraising events. I know it does.
I have friends and family that have recently battled breast cancer. Everyone is touched by this horrible disease, just like they say. But I have to believe there's a better charity that can do more with my money.
And planned parenthood would never get my money. But you know that already.
Comments
PP helps women who are with child that they have chosen to keep, and connects them with people who can help with financial issues, they provide health screenings for mom and baby through pregnancy and during infancy.
If anyone really believes PP provides more abortions than anything else, they seriously need to go sit in the waiting room for an hour.
I hope for the sake of all the women that use their preventive services that they can prove they spend a majority of their income on those services.
If, as I fear, they can not prove that 90% of their business is preventive (that's a ridiculous claim) then I hope we can readjust how their funded so they can provide 90% preventive measures and fewer abortions. I'm not apposed to the preventive care. Or even the morning after pill. And this notion that a condom is enough needs to be put to rest forever. If a woman does not want a baby, she needs to be on a form of birth control AND use a condom.