Head of Komen Central and South Jersey Affiliate Expresses Relief about Planned Parenthood Funding Decision Reversal

Nancy Healey, the executive director of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Central and South Jersey, sent an e-mail out this afternoon expressing relief about the Komen national headquarters reversing the decision about funding Planned Parenthood. Yesterday she sent out an e-mail explaining that funding was halted by the national office because of a federal investigation and explaining that Planned Parenthood was not a current grantee of the Central and South Jersey affiliate.

E-mail sent by Healey today:

Finally!  Our national headquarters has reversed its decision.  The responsibility to fund grant programs is back in the rightful hands of the affiliates.  We know our communities and needs best.  On behalf of the staff and board of CSNJ, we are very happy about this decision.  Your strong opposition and passionate voices were heard.   We heard from hundreds of Central and South Jersey supporters this week.  Your request for a reversal of this decision along with ours was passed along to headquarters and they listened.

It has been a difficult week at the affiliate as I am sure it has been for all of you, our most dedicated supporters. We are united in one mission – to end breast cancer forever.  This is not, and should never be, a political issue that divides our diverse constituency.

In 2011, with your support, the affiliate invested $1.6 million into the local community to reach 45,000 women in Central and South Jersey.    Our programs provide life-saving mammograms and breast health programs reaching under-served communities.  We also invest 25% of our proceeds to find a cure and end breast cancer forever.   For a full list of our current grant programs and learn more about the granting process, click here.

Now, as an affiliate, we have to get back to the business of helping women in our neediest communities.  I would like to personally thank you for your feedback and passionate support.  I hope you will continue to help us fight breast cancer in Central and South Jersey.

With grateful appreciation,

Nancy K. Healey
, Executive Director

E-mail Healey sent out Thursday:

By now you may have heard about our national office’s recent decision to halt funding to Planned Parenthood due to a pending Federal investigation. We appreciate the outpouring of concern from our constituents. This resolution was made on a national level and we are not a part of these overarching decisions.

We’d like to address concerns regarding women in Central and South Jersey receiving life-saving mammograms and breast health education.

Our affiliate prides itself on evidence and outcomes based programing reaching under served women in our neediest communities.  This has been our focus since 2005. We address barriers to health care and our programs increase access to screening and education initiatives.  Our grantees are chosen by an independent committee of volunteers from various backgrounds.  Planned Parenthood is not a current grantee of the affiliate and no funding for vital services in Central and South Jersey has been halted.  We continue to fund 31 programs in 13 counties that provide the highest level of service to our community.  For a full list of our programs for fiscal year 2011-2012, click here.

Seventy-five percent of our revenue supports programs in the local community where our constituents live and work.  The remaining 25% supports innovative breast cancer research bringing us closer to the cure.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been a part of every major advance in the disease since 1982.

We remain committed to our mission to end breast cancer forever.  We value the support of our constituents who make our work possible.  It is because of your passion that we are able to make a difference.  We hope that you will continue to work with our organization.

With grateful appreciation,

Nancy K. Healey, 
Executive Director

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.