Actress America Ferrera recently spoke a luncheon for Planned Parenthood, in which she said she happy to be a part of an organization devoted to women’s health.
“I think that women’s health is an issue that is close to me, because of my community. We’re only as strong as the ability we have to take care of the women who are giving birth and nurturing the next generation, Ferrera said at the luncheon.
The television (Ugly Better) and film star support come at a time when Planned Parenthood is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants from breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Tuesday, Planned Parenthood released a statement saying it was “alarmed and saddened” by the withdrawal of support from Komen.
“We are alarmed and saddened that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure. Our greatest desire is for Komen to reconsider this policy and recommit to the partnership on which so many women count,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
In the last few weeks, the Komen Foundation has begun notifying local Planned Parenthood programs that their breast cancer initiatives will not be eligible for new grants (beyond existing agreements or plans).
To ensure that the Komen Foundation’s decision doesn’t jeopardize any woman’s access to lifesaving screenings and services, Planned Parenthood has launched a Breast Health Emergency Fund. The fund will offset the support that 19 local Planned Parenthood programs stand to lose from Komen. The Komen-funded Planned Parenthood programs have helped thousands of women in rural and underserved communities get breast health education, screenings, and referrals for mammograms.
“While this is deeply disturbing and disappointing, we want to assure women who rely on Planned Parenthood for breast care that we’re still here for them, and we always will be. The new fund we’re launching to support these services will ensure that the Komen Foundation’s decision doesn’t jeopardize women’s health,” added Richards.
