Komen affiliate eager to move past Planned Parenthood controversy

By Friday afternoon, Stacy Poore, the executive director of Komen Colorado Springs, was hoping to return to the group’s everyday mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer.

All day Wednesday and Thursday, the local affiliate had been swept up in a political maelstrom after the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation announced it would no longer give grants to Planned Parenthood to provide breast health screenings  to uninsured women.

On Friday, this decision was reversed.

The foundation said in a statement, “Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

“We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.”

Komen president Elizabeth Thompson had said earlier that the original decision was not related to a congressional investigation into whether Planned Parenthood was using federal funds to pay for abortions.

Poore and local volunteers had worked for two days to respond to more than 100 voicemails and emails.

“Today we’re hearing from a different constituency,” Poore said. “For us to be involved in issues is not productive.”

Poore said that since Wednesday she feels she has been put through “one of those old washing machines, the ones with the wringer.” However, she felt strongly that “it’s important for people to show their passions. They just must. And people are passionate here. We have great people doing great things.”

Poore said the Southern Colorado affiliate has not funded Planned Parenthood with a grant in many years because they haven't requested one.

However, as part of the state-funded Women’s Wellness Connection, Planned Parenthood and Peak Vista are the two sites that accept women who need a breast exam but have no insurance. Planned Parenthood can also issue referrals for mammograms.

Poore said the affiliate does not take sides on issues such as abortion that are not part of its mission.

There are 120 Komen affiliates and each offers grants to programs in its particular area. Poore said last year the affiliates gave almost $90 million in community grants. An estimated $600,000 went to Planned Parenthood because, she said, “in many communities there is no option for uninsured women needing breast screenings other than Planned Parenthood.”