Hello, everyone. Mary here. I wanted to write a note to our friends and family- our donors- on behalf of all the Holleger Kids in response to the recent controversy involving the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
The Controversy:
It has come to our attention that
certain branches of the Susan G. Komen Foundation have given money to Planned Parenthood specifically to fund screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer to women who have no health insurance. This money goes specifically for- and directly to- that purpose alone, and does not go to fund abortions. However, conservatives across the nation protested in outrage. This caused the Komen Foundation to withdraw all future support from Planned Parenthood. At this point, the liberals protested, and Komen responded to the national criticism by reversing their policy yet again, deciding that they will continue to provide cancer screenings to women in need by donating to Planned Parenthood in the future. The back-and-forth caused quite a national stir, and has caused mixed feelings among conservatives and liberals alike.
It is important to note that all Komen branches are LOCAL, and
the Philadelphia Affiliate with which we are associated has NOT donated to Planned Parenthood during the time we raised money for them. Not because they are opposed to it one way or the other, but because Planned Parenthood is simply not on their list of grant applicants. To see the letter we received from Komen themselves, you can scroll to the bottom of this page.
In Honor of Our Mother:
All of us "Holleger Kids" have different views regarding this controversy. But one thing we all agree on is that we want to do what our mother would want us to do. As a conservative Christian, our mother was passionately pro-life. We believe that even though Komen does not provide
any money to fund abortions, and the Philadelphia Affiliate does not fund Planned Parenthood
period, that
our mother would have still preferred us to consider donating to another charity in the future.
Before this controversy arose, we were already considering switching our charity to The American Cancer Society, so that we could honor our three grandparents who have died of various forms of cancer as well as our mother. We all feel that breast cancer gets a lot of awareness, and there are many other cancers that need research and support as well. In the light of this recent controversy, we feel like this may be a good time to begin this transition.
What We're Doing:
This year,
we are honoring our commitment to the Philadelphia Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The money raised does not go to support Planned Parenthood. But we wish to give you, our donors,
the option to donate to either Susan G. Komen or The American Cancer Society. We do not want our donors to have to face a personal moral dilemma that would prevent them from donating if they felt strongly about the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Next year, we will fully transition to donating solely to The American Cancer Society. However, we still plan to participate non-financially in the Mother's Day Race for the Cure (by Komen) every year in honor of our mother.
How You Can Help:
If you live in the area,
please attend our fundraising party on April 20th! Click the "
FUNDRAISING EVENTS" tab for more information and to purchase tickets. You can specify which charity you would like to donate towards. If you can't make it to the party, please visit the "
DONATE" tab to donate directly to the Holleger Kids. Donations made to the Holleger Kids in general will go to The American Cancer Society, and to help fund our future events. You may still donate to the Komen Foundation by visiting our
TEAM PAGE and making a donation there.
Thank you all
for your past and future donations
as we continue to
KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING
and FIGHT THIS DISEASE!
-The Holleger Kids
LETTER FROM THE PHILADELPHIA AFFILIATE OF SUSAN G. KOMEN:
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Dear Mary,
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your steadfast friendship to the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate, and to the millions of people we serve. Over the past week, our local staff and board of directors personally advocated for the people served by our mission.
We give you our word, despite the events stemming from Komen National headquarters' decision to change affiliate grant making policies, the focus of the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate was on women and their families, and this is where it will remain. With determination and outrage, we banded together with other Komen affiliates throughout the country to advocate for what we know is right. Please know that we will continue to work with our colleagues across the country to advocate for grant making policies that have the health of women as their first and foremost concern.
Our local grant making process is rigorous and uses an independent peer-review system to evaluate grant applications and make funding recommendations. Since 2006, Komen Philadelphia has provided over $15.5 million in grants to local organizations that deliver breast health services and over $6 million to support breast cancer research grants at the national level. In 2012-2013 alone, our grantees will provide more than 70,000 women in our local communities with vital breast health services through programs funded by Komen Philadelphia. Our only chance of building on this record of service is to raise more funds to help more women.
We now look forward to continuing our leadership of the breast cancer movement even more strongly and compassionately in our fifteen counties. Yes, the past week may have 'shook us up' a bit, but so did the last economic spiral and many other difficult challenges over the 22-year history of our Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. But, as you know, we not only overcame each one, we found strength and growth in doing so! We are confident this situation will be the same and, again, this is the reason I write... to thank you as one of our valuable Race participants and fundraisers - for the unfaltering friendship, support and faith in our work and the cures that allow us to do so.
If you have any questions about this issue, The Affiliate's role in the events that unfolded, or our outlook, please contact me personally at 215-238-8900.
As you know, The Affiliate positions the Race as "Our Race. Our Community. Our Cures!" I invite you to draw upon this with me as inspiration and confirmation of our promise to serve our communities in the ways we KNOW will enrich and save lives.
With sincerest thanks,
Elaine I. Grobman
Chief Executive Officer |
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