Remember Your Mission - Komen and Planned Parenthood

Photo from: http://tinyurl.com/7lzev89

We’ve all heard about the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood dilemma throughout the past few weeks. Questions are swirling around in the media regarding the actions taken by Komen for the Cure. What were the organization leaders thinking? What was their motivation for cutting funding to Planned Parenthood? And most importantly, how will the organization (or can the organization) bounce back? All of these questions are difficult to answer. But many public relations professionals are attempting to take a stab at understanding the situation and suggesting ways for Komen to rebuild its reputation.

            In the hours that followed Komen’s announcement that the organization will cut funding to Planned Parenthood, donations to Planned Parenthood spiked. In fact, the increase in donations was so vast that the funding Planned Parenthood would have received from Komen was more than covered. The opposition against Komen was clear.

            Although Karen Handel, former senior vice president for public policy at Komen, resigned from her position mere days after the news to cut funding (and then the reversal of the decision) was announced, the organization is still struggling to regain its composure and strength of brand. Again, not only is the opposition against Komen evident but it has proven in the past few weeks to run deep.

Photo from: http://tinyurl.com/7kg4lk4

            Komen’s decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood blatantly went against its core values and mission. Early detection saves lives; it saved my own mother’s life. Diagnosed in June 2009, my mother is now in remission, living life cancer free. Had she not gotten a mammography and found the breast cancer as early as she did, I cannot say confidently that the outcome would have been the same. Revoking funding to Planned Parenthood prevents many women (and men) who cannot afford a mammography from receiving the disease catching test. This is the most egregious part of Komen’s decision. They violated the very foundation of the organization and its supporters by pulling the funding.

            Komen for the Cure has a long road to travel back to redemption. I don’t doubt that the brand can succeed and return to the level at which they once stood, but I do believe it will be trying and difficult to gain back the trust they lost. I only hope that the organization and its leaders understand the mistake they made and vow to follow the mission of the foundation more closely in future decisions.