Wiki Page, Social Media: W3.4 Komen Foundation

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2013-05-15T09:38:51-06:00

Komen Foundation

In February 2012, The Susan G. Komen Foundation (for breast cancer research) decided to pull funding from Planned Parenthood because Planned Parenthood also provides abortions. The outpouring of anger on social media about this decision was immediate and overwhelming. In just four days, the Komen Foundation reversed its decision and altered its funding criteria to include Planned Parenthood (with certain restrictions on funding).

Here's the day-by-day reporting from the New York Times:

Uproar as Breast Cancer Group Ends Partnership with Planned Parenthood, by Gardiner Harris and Pam Belluck, New York Times, Feb 1, 2012.

Outcry is Fierce to Cut in Funds by Cancer Group, by Jennifer Preston and Gardiner Harris, New York Times, Feb 2, 2012.

Cancer Group Backs Down on Cutting Off Planned Parenthood, by Pam Belluck, Jennifer Preston, and Gardiner Harris, New York Times, Feb 3, 2012.

Komen Foundation Struggles to Regain Wide Support, by David Wallis, New York Times, Nov 8, 2012.

There is an awesome analysis of the Social Media uprising that provides Twitter and Facebook metrics for this time period:

Tracking a Social Media Crisis: Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood, by Banyan Branch, Feb 10, 2012 [source of the image above]