Donations Allow Planned Parenthood to Expand Breast Health Program
Planned Parenthood announced it will expand several of its breast health programs across the country after being bolstered by donations sparked by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure controversy earlier this year.
The nonprofit group will offer more breast health education, services and outreach, such as digital breast health education resources targeted to women age 18 to 39 and an expanded outreach program for Latinas.
The cash windfall came after Komen announced it would stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood for breast health. Komen said the decision was based on policy changes, but many speculated it was a political move. Komen quickly reversed its decision.
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Less than four days and more than $3 million dollars later, Planned Parenthood discovered its supporters were quite passionate about keeping them afloat.
“We were overwhelmed with support from people all across the country who wanted to be sure that women could still get breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood,” Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a news release. “We’re proud to be working with Komen again on our shared mission of protecting women’s health and beating breast cancer.”
Richards added that 94 percent of Planned Parenthood’s patients are under the age of 40, so breast exams are important for early disease detection: “This expanded program will help us provide more patients with these vital screenings, and also ensure that more patients in need can get specialized follow up care, like ultrasounds or biopsies.”
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Jeannine Stein, a California native, wrote about health for the Los Angeles Times. In her pursuit of a healthy lifestyle she has taken countless fitness classes, hiked in Nepal, and has gotten in a boxing ring. Email Jeannine | TakePart.com
