A Statement from Komen San Diego

The National office of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced today it would revise a controversial new policy that barred funding to organizations under investigation at the local, state, regional or federal level. 

 “Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation,” said an official statement from Susan G. Komen Board of Directors and Founder and CEO Nancy G. Brinker.  “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.”

“There was a presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood,” continued the statement.  “They were not.”

I want you to know that the San Diego Affiliate was strongly opposed to Komen National’s new grant making policy.  We couldn’t in good conscience abide by the policy as it had been stated.  Among many others who did the same, we had asked Komen National to change it so that there would be no denial of grants unless an organization is actually found guilty of wrongdoing.  And that is what happened.

This week, we found ourselves in a political firestorm.  Now, we can get back to business.  We can refocus on our mission. 

Please know that our mission hasn’t changed.  We are here to make sure that the needs of the uninsured and underinsured populations get the vital services they need for breast health.  Let us be clear that no part of our mission is, has been, or ever will be politically driven.

Please click here for a letter from the San Diego affiliate's Board President, Linda Amaro.