Six-figure salaries don't exactly scream "charitable" to me.
The problem isn't that Susan G. Komen doesn't do good work; they have certainly raised the bar on breast cancer awareness (their name is basically synonymous with the topic). The problem is that their group is flirting with the line between charity and corporation.
The problem isn't that Susan G. Komen doesn't do good work; they have certainly raised the bar on breast cancer awareness (their name is basically synonymous with the topic). The problem is that their group is flirting with the line between charity and corporation.
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| More important than funding cancer screenings? |
Television personality Stephen Colbert commented on the Komen foundations' practice better than I ever could:
"Anybody who knows me knows I am a huge supporter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, which raises millions of dollars a year in the fight against breast cancer . . . So I'm giving a big Tip of my Hat to the Komen foundation for spending almost a million dollars a year in donor funds to sue these other groups. If they don't own the phrase 'For the Cure,' then people might donate money thinking it's going to an organization dedicated to curing cancer, when instead it's wasted on organizations dedicated to curing cancer."
In recent years, Susan G. Komen has endured a drop in contributions. This is largely because they toed over the line from charity to political entity when, in 2012, they pulled funding to Planned Parenthood, a women's health clinic which gives breast cancer screenings. It simply doesn't make sense to stop funding an entity which directly helps your cause - unless your cause is no longer to "find a cure," but to please other donors and get more money.
Sure, some say the money saved on Planned Parenthood can be used to fund other meaningful endeavors, but isn't screening for cancer a meaningful endeavour? Isn't it the easiest way to detect cancer, so that the cancer can be treated?
And when Komen is selling out to KFC and Mike's Hard Lemonade, let's not pretend it's prevention they're worried abou: fatty foods and excessive alcohol consumption are linked to increased chances of getting breast cancer.
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| Comic courtesy of Quora |
In recent years, Susan G. Komen has endured a drop in contributions. This is largely because they toed over the line from charity to political entity when, in 2012, they pulled funding to Planned Parenthood, a women's health clinic which gives breast cancer screenings. It simply doesn't make sense to stop funding an entity which directly helps your cause - unless your cause is no longer to "find a cure," but to please other donors and get more money.
Sure, some say the money saved on Planned Parenthood can be used to fund other meaningful endeavors, but isn't screening for cancer a meaningful endeavour? Isn't it the easiest way to detect cancer, so that the cancer can be treated?
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| A terrible ad campaign |
And when Komen is selling out to KFC and Mike's Hard Lemonade, let's not pretend it's prevention they're worried abou: fatty foods and excessive alcohol consumption are linked to increased chances of getting breast cancer.
Dishearted and disillusioned? I was too. Fear not, though: if you still want to support the fight to end breast cancer without succumbing to Komen's pink-ification, there are plenty of places to donate your money, all listed and linked below. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing that your money helps real women and men diagnosed with breast cancer.You just might not get a cool t-shirt that lets everyone know you, like, totally support the ta-tas.
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Better charities:
American Cancer Society
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The National Breast Foundation
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