Americans who want to fight breast cancer without funding the nation's largest abortion provider were disappointed last week by the Komen foundation's apparent decision to continue funding Planned Parenthood. Although the Komen foundation may continue funding the nation's largest abortion provider, the American Cancer Society does not send money to Planned Parenthood.
The American Cancer Society, one of the nation's largest charities, sent $8,000 to Planned Parenthood five years ago but has not awarded any grants to Planned Parenthood since then. "The program under which the grants were funded expired in 2007, and no further grants have been given since that time," American Cancer Society spokesman* writes in an email to THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
So where does the American Cancer Society send its money? "Each year, on average, the American Cancer Society raises about $1 billion nationwide," a spokesman wrote in an email. "Approximately 72 percent goes toward direct program services -- research (15%), prevention (17%), patient support (27%) and detection/treatment (13%). The other 28 percent is divided between general management (6%) and fundraising (22%)."
"The funds raised by nationwide initiatives, such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, go toward the Society's general fund -- the source of the Planned Parenthood grants about you had previously asked," the spokesman continued. " We are not aware of any grants for breast or other cancer screening at Planned Parenthood clinics."
But could American Cancer Society money be making its way indirectly to Planned Parenthood? A 2008 Planned Parenthood New Mexico press release, for example, thanks the American Cancer Society for helping make possible a breast and cervical cancer screening program. An ACS spokesman explained that the money actually went to the New Mexico department of health, which in turn funded the screenings and Planned Parenthood:
It turns out these grants ($100K) go to the New Mexico Dept. of Health for their Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Those funds, by the terms of the grant, are used specifically and only for providing un- and under-insured women in New Mexico free or low-cost mammograms, Pap tests, and follow up care. Planned Parenthood New Mexico is simply one of many agencies that refers un- or under-insured women to NM providers who offer free or low-cost mammograms, Pap tests and follow up care; PPNM does not offer those services, and indeed Great West Division does not provide any direct funding of PPNM.
The particular grant to New Mexico's health department was discontinued for financial reasons, according to a spokesman, but ACS does continue to fund other state health programs. ACS officials were unable to provide information on which agencies receive funding, so it is unable to determine whether Planned Parenthood is benefiting indrectly from ACS funding. And even if it is, pro-lifers may have different views whether they
"The American Cancer Society does not approve research grants using embryonic stem cells or fetal tissue. The Society has chosen to continue funding peer-reviewed scientific inquiry that could offer alternatives to the use of embryonic stem cells or fetal tissue. Such alternatives could include the study of human stem cells derived from adult or umbilical cord blood sources. No monies raised by the American Cancer Society are used to support embryonic or fetal tissue research.
"The Society continues to carefully monitor emerging science around human embryonic stem cell research to determine its potential implications for cancer patients, while at the same time providing information about all treatment options. The Society believes strongly that the nature of this research makes it imperative that it be pursued under appropriate protections and that the federal government is the institution best suited to oversee it."
*The spokesman asked not to be identified by name in order to prevent harassment, but said the statements may be attributed to the American Cancer Society.