The Susan Komen For The Cure international headquarters are shown in the Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. After three days of controversy, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity says it is reversing its decision to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood.grant recipients
2012 grant recipients from Chattanooga’s Komen chapter:The BeST for Tennessee Women Project grant: Hamilton County Health Department, operating in Bledsoe, Bradley and Polk countiesAccess to Breast Health Education and Mammograms grant: Memorial Healthcare, operating in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee countiesPromotoras de Salud Breast Cancer Program grant: Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, operating in Whitfield and Murray countiesBreast Health In-Reach Program grant: Erlanger System/UT College of Medicine, operating in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee countiesSmart Breast Health grant: North Georgia Healthcare Center, operating in Catoosa, Walker, Whitfield and Murray countiesSource: Susan G. Komen Chattanooga chapter
Tennessee may be a conservative state, but that didn’t stop an outpouring of support for Planned Parenthood after the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity announced it would cut funding to the group.
In the last week, Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee officials said people walked into their offices with thousands of dollars in donations, and many first-time callers pledged support for the organization.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised at the outpouring of support,” said Jeff Teague, executive director of the group that runs health centers in Nashville, Knoxville and Johnson City. “These continued attacks on women and women’s health issues have started to energize what has been a very silent majority.”
The dust-up between the two groups began with The Associated Press reporting Jan. 31 that Komen would exclude Planned Parenthood from future grants for breast-cancer screenings. After a national backlash, Komen reversed its decision Friday, saying it would continue to fund existing grants.