Susan G. Komen for the Cure defunds Planned Parenthood

[IrishLake]

What a shame, on both counts. It's a shame that politics got involved with a charity, and it's a shame people will stop donating to SGK as a result.

At least there are alternatives, like American Cancer Society and The Stephanie Spielman Fund.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

What a shame, on both counts. It's a shame that politics got involved with a charity, and it's a shame people will stop donating to SGK as a result.

At least there are alternatives, like American Cancer Society and The Stephanie Spielman Fund.

You can certainly donate directly to Planned Parenthood.

[KSig RC]

In college, I worked summers in a research lab helping with gene therapy cancer research ... maybe half our time was spent doing grant proposals for breast cancer research, even though our lab's work would be much more useful for other forms of cancer (generally, less treatable/less easily targeted, albeit rarer, forms).

The corporatization of (specifically breast) cancer has created borderline monoliths, and they control the money, and thus help direct research. It's actually kind of awkward, having a corporate oligarchy for something like cancer research ... and while breast cancer obviously isn't completely solved, treatments are much more successful than many other cancers (even common ones).

It's not hyperbole to think that the actions of certain groups have pushed aside research attempts for other cancers. It's the cash reality.

[kddani]

Is Susan G. Komen still one of ZTA's national philanthropies? If so, I can imagine that there's an internal debate going on in ZTA about that relationship.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by kddani

Is Susan G. Komen still one of ZTA's national philanthropies? If so, I can imagine that there's an internal debate going on in ZTA about that relationship.

They have a partnership with them with race for the cure, but if I recall correctly, we had a discussion on here that their philanthropy is no longer SGK specifically but breast cancer research generically.

And so much word on the "pinkwashing." Talk about the lowest form of human involvement.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by 33girl

They have a partnership with them with race for the cure, but if I recall correctly, we had a discussion on here that their philanthropy is no longer SGK specifically but breast cancer research generically.

And so much word on the "pinkwashing." Talk about the lowest form of human involvement.

33 is correct. Several years ago, ZTA changed our phil. to Breast Cancer research and education because we partner with the NFL, Yoplait, local college teams and other local events to promote breast cancer awareness, research and education.

. We sponsor the Survivor Tents(with food and drink for the survivors and their families) and usually provide goodie bags, hats, t-shirts and (sometimes) pink boas for the survivors participating in the race at Race for the Cure.

[HQWest]

Both groups have their political turmoil brewing here. I can understand why people are withdrawing their money from SGKnow, but I can also understand why SGK made such a decision about Planned Parenthood. While I know about some of the really good things that Planned Parenthood has helped with in terms of access to health care and public health, I was recently accidentally at a big Planned Parenthood meeting because they were meeting in the same hotel I had some other business in. On the one hand, they were talking about encouraging and promoting health awareness, they were also training students about political activism (sort of a la the Occupy movement or the less friendly versions of the Tea Party), and they were promoting some causes that I was not comfortable with at all.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by HQWest

they were promoting some causes that I was not comfortable with at all.

such as?

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

such as?

What just didn't seem right was some of the things they had about recruiting high school kids into working for their programs in particular in urban communities and how to go about raising money. I can't find any of the names of the seminars or the agenda online right now, but there was more to it than a public health awareness program or passing out condoms and Aids awareness literature to students. They had high school students who were there as an award for a high school program that were then invited to attend seminars on how to raise money for planned parenthood or help support political campaigns.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HQWest

What just didn't seem right was some of the things they had about recruiting high school kids into working for their programs in particular in urban communities and how to go about raising money. I can't find any of the names of the seminars or the agenda online right now, but there was more to it than a public health awareness program or passing out condoms and Aids awareness literature to students. They had high school students who were there as an award for a high school program that were then invited to attend seminars on how to raise money for planned parenthood or help support political campaigns.

Planned Parenthood NEVER set out to be political. Others have made it so. They're only doing what they need to do to defend themselves from obliteration.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

such as?

Why should that matter? It's her choice.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlum

Why should that matter? It's her choice.

I think she was just asking for clarification...

[agzg]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

In college, I worked summers in a research lab helping with gene therapy cancer research ... maybe half our time was spent doing grant proposals for breast cancer research, even though our lab's work would be much more useful for other forms of cancer (generally, less treatable/less easily targeted, albeit rarer, forms).

The corporatization of (specifically breast) cancer has created borderline monoliths, and they control the money, and thus help direct research. It's actually kind of awkward, having a corporate oligarchy for something like cancer research ... and while breast cancer obviously isn't completely solved, treatments are much more successful than many other cancers (even common ones).

It's not hyperbole to think that the actions of certain groups have pushed aside research attempts for other cancers. It's the cash reality.

Seriously. My grandmother died of breast cancer, and my mom died of a ribbonless cancer, and I'm quite sure that neither of them would be in super impressed with SGK on this one. The pinkwashing and sexualization of breastcancer has been horrendous.

SGK still refuses to acknowledge that BPA has been linked with cancers - BPA that are used in the making of their pink goods.

[als463]

I wasn't too impressed with SGK when my mother signed up to do their walk in Philadelphia. Apparently she had to raise $2,500 to even be a part of it. When she didn't raise the entire amount and she was about $500 short, SGK told her that she would have "make up the difference" out of her pocket since she had already signed on to particpate. Really? This woman just helped raise over $1,500 and that wasn't "good enough" to participate? After that, when people ask me to do a SGK walk, I turn the other way. No way would I EVER do a walk for SGK if that is how they conduct business. I'd rather just donate the amount I can and call it a day.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

What a shame, on both counts. It's a shame that politics got involved with a charity, and it's a shame people will stop donating to SGK as a result.

At least there are alternatives, like American Cancer Society and The Stephanie Spielman Fund.

Agree 100%. I have been a fan of SGK for over 20 years and will continue to be one.