Timner Case
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The departures include three officials from Komens Dallas headquarters, as well as CEOs of affiliate groups in Oregon and New York City. The chairman of the foundation also stepped down from his post, though he will remain on the board. Although some cited personal reasons, the resignations suggest that Komen is still in turmoil, even after reversing course and restoring the money to Planned Parenthood.
Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun said she could not speak to individuals reasons for leaving but acknowledged the effects of the controversy among supporters.
“Obviously, we know some folks are upset. Weve certainly seen that,” Aun said. “We know people have been upset by recent events, but most really do recognize the importance of our work.”
The resignations began about a month ago. Chris McDonald, executive director and chief executive of the organizations Oregon and southwest Washington affiliate, announced that shell leave at the end of April. She said her decision wasnt “predicated by any one event,” but that actions by national headquarters affected her thinking.
“Despite our deep frustration about the distraction that our organization headquarters actions caused, I was proud that our affiliate took a strong stand against the politicization of the fight to improve womens health,” McDonald said in a Feb. 25 statement posted on the organizations website.
One board member for McDonalds affiliate, Portland attorney Jennifer Williamson, rejoined the board after stepping down last month to put pressure on the national organization. She couldnt walk away from the local Komen work to expand access to womens health care, she said.
“As a local affiliate we could push back on them but we couldnt do anything about it,” said Williamson, who is also on the Planned Parenthood board and is a Democratic candidate for the state Legislature. “I did what I had the ability to do, which was resign from the board. But to support the mission I rejoined the board.”
News emerged in late January that Komen had decided to stop giving money to Planned Parenthood for breast-screening services because Planned Parenthood was the focus of a congressional investigation launched at the urging of anti-abortion activists. After a three-day firestorm of criticism, Komen decided to restore the money.
Some Komen affiliates, including McDonalds, were among those that publicly opposed the policy change that cut off grants for Planned Parenthood.
In the days after the reversal, Komen policy chief Karen Handel resigned. She had opposed abortion as a Republican candidate for Georgia governor and had become a target of those angry about the decision to halt funding to Planned Parenthood.
In Dallas, the three resignations were Katrina McGhee, executive