February 1st, 2012 
I feel that those who have a voice and a following have a responsibility to use that position to make positive change in the world. I decided last year that I would challenge Miss A’s 300 writers and editors to join me in fundraising for Susan G. Komen Race for Cure in the 21 cities we cover. I have been very open with my readers about the fact that the monetization of the website is still something I am working out. I’m blessed to have writers who while unpaid enjoy the freedom of writing on subjects about which they are most passionate. The topic my writers are most passionate about is philanthropy, so it’s natural that we would want to use our national reach for a good cause. Miss A covers the intersection of charity and style, so when I had to decide which of the many nonprofits to support it was a very tough decision.
There were a number of reasons why I chose Susan G. Komen. I love that the nonprofit was based on a promise between sisters. I am impressed with the entrepreneurial passion of Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker. It’s an amazing testament to her commitment and determination that a promise made to her sister has grown into such a huge global organization that actually has the resources to find a cure for breast cancer. I am also impressed by the accountability and transparency of the organization, and large a percentage of donations goes to the mission. As a business woman, I liked that the nonprofit has global reach, and has such solid corporate partnerships. I’m not sure any nonprofit has done a better job with branding and marketing. I will also admit that I liked Susan G. Komen for one completely superficially reason — their color is pink, and I love pink and it’s my brand.
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker
Today, we published an article on our participation in Komen Maryland Ocean City Race for the Cure. Due to today’s news cycle we received many negative comments and Facebook postings asking why would support Susan G. Komen. I also received some feedback from writers who love writing for Miss A but are now very much against participating in our fundraising efforts.
I understand women coming to the defense of Planned Parenthood. I’m a strong woman, but I know I would never be able to emotionally handle having an abortion. That said, I don’t judge others. I believe in a woman’s right to choose. I don’t think late term abortions should take place except in rare situations. I feel like this should be between a woman and her physician. I actually shared one of my editors with Planned Parenthood as that is another place she has interned and I support her passion for what they do.
It’s incredible how public opinion can shift so dramatically overnight. This is the same nonprofit whose brand outranked all others in terms of trust according to Harris Interactive and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The media and political operatives love to pit women against each other. It brings out that whole “cat fight” thing they crave. Please don’t let them divide and conquer. I hope that everyone will take a breath and spend a few minutes to view Ambassador Brinker’s video above. I think it’s much better when you hear directly from the woman in charge rather than having your news filtered for you.
I hope that my friends, readers and even some of my skeptical writers will give Susan G. Komen benefit of the doubt and support our fundraising effort to find a cure for breast cancer.
- Miss A
Truth? Hardly. Spin is what that is. The money that went to planned parenthood was for screenings, not abortions. Abortions are only 3% of what PP provides. The rest of their services are needed women’s heath care. Much of which goes to the undeserved in our society. The spin, like this above, is misleading and has now become damaging. They’re no longer a charity for the good of being a charity, they are a money making machine with corporate sensibilities subject to the political pressures that such a postion brings. Shame on them.
No. Your “truth” contains no information about how this decision was made or why it was made. In the absence of any real defense or explanation of Komen’s position, it must be assumed that the decision to deny funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization which is often the only place where poor women can access gynecologic and obstetric care including breast cancer screening, is a political one. I will not be donating to Komen this year or in the future unless the funding is reinstated or a good explanation of why the funding was cut is provided. An emotional appeal to unity among women from an organization which has just stabbed a major provider of women’s health care in the back rings hollow.