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Leadership Changes and an Expose for Komen Foundation

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The Susan G. Komen Foundation will undergo significant changes following the debacle in which it announced it would eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood, only to buckle under public pressure instigated by Planned Parenthood which caused Komen to reinstate the grants. CEO Nancy Brinker will step down to focus on Komen’s “global mission and raising resources to bring our promise to women all around the world.”

It was only a matter of time, for the public debacle over Planned Parenthood has damaged this organization significantly in the public eye and financially. Also resigning are policy chief Karen Handel; Executive vice president and chief marketing officer Katrina McGhee; vice president of global networks Nancy Macgregor; and director of affiliate strategy and planning Joanna Newcomb. Board members Brenda Lauderback and Linda Law are also leaving. Finally, Komen President Liz Thompson is leaving effective September 7. News stories present different accounts on why all of these key people are leaving the organization, but it is clear that the organization is sweeping house.

Adding to the organization’s woes is the about-to-be-released book by Karen Handel titled “Planned Bullyhood: The Truth about the Planned Parenthood Funding Battle with Susan G. Komen For the Cure.” Handel was intimately involved in the decision to eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood and has done several interviews on why that decision was made. Handel told Fox News: “I think the Congressional investigation, along with the various state investigations, were a factor in the decision. But make no mistake about it, it was a bigger picture than that. There was the granting criteria, as well as the controversies that were surrounding Planned Parenthood.” Handel here is referring to investigations of Planned Parenthood by the federal and several state governments where Planned Parenthood is accused of fraud, misuse of taxpayer dollars and breaking abortion laws.

A tarnished organization, for sure, that maintains its ties to the nation’s abortion giant. What a sad outcome for its cause and the women it hopes to serve.

Barbara Lyons

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