Pittsburgh Komen affiliate loses 2 Race for the Cure sponsors
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The Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure has lost two sponsors over the national organization's management of issues regarding the funding of Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screening, Jeremy Hartzell, president-elect of the local affiliate, confirmed today.
Mr. Hartzell said the loss of those sponsors had nothing to do with the decision of the board Feb. 7 to approve a vote of no confidence in the national office's handling of the Planned Parenthood furor.
"The loss of those sponsors was not discussed at all during the meeting," Mr. Hartzell said. "When the vote came about the board's discussion and decision [was] that the manner the national board managed this whole process was mismanaged."
The local affiliate also issued a letter to the national board expressing its dissatisfaction and regret.
He declined to name the lost sponsors but did say that all the major sponsors are back for the 2012 race.
The national office initially decided to stop funding Planned Parenthood because of a Congressional investigation into the nonprofit initiated by a lawmaker opposed to abortions. After a huge public outcry, Komen reversed itself and said it would only stop funding to groups under criminal investigation.
Mr. Hartzell said the board of directors and the office staff of the local Komen affiliate had been in touch with all sponsors, including the two lost ones, both before and after the local vote and letter.
First Published February 15, 2012 3:34 pm
