Komen reverses decision to deny funding to Planned Parenthood After three days of tumult, the breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced it had reversed its decision to deny further grants to Planned Parenthood Federation of America for breast-health services. The decision follows an outpouring of criticism from politicians and other nonprofit organizations, as well as strong public reaction via Twitter, Facebook and other social media. "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives," Friday's statement from Komen said. The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not. Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards expressed relief in a Friday news conference after the Komen foundation's about-face, calling it "a victory for women and for women who rely on this care." "I do believe that the Komen foundation has been the target of political bullying, the same forces that have been out trying to deny women access to birth control over the last year," Richards added, referring to pressure from groups opposed to abortion that the leading charity stop funding Planned Parenthood. Friday's reversal, Richards said, "sends an important message ... that women are willing to stand up for women andwomen's health." According to Komen officials, the move to cut off grants to Planned Parenthood was based on a new policy not to fund organizations that are under investigation. Planned Parenthood has been the subject of an inquiry by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla) into whether the organization used federal funds for abortion services. But in a Thursday news conference, Komen founder and chief executive Nancy Brinker questioned whether Planned Parenthood was the best choice for breast-health funding by Komen because it doesn't provide mammograms and biopsies in-house, but rather provides outside referrals for these procedures. Nonetheless, Planned Parenthood's Richards said she had read the Komen statement and would take the reversal in good faith. "I certainly take them at their word," Richards said. And I think what we've seen around the country is there is incredible partnership between our local health centers, and our doctors and nurses, with the Komen foundation local leadership. Indeed, many local Komen affiliates had publicly expressed support for Planned Parenthood and disappointment in the initial decision by the national Komen board. They now have chimed in with relief. Among them was the Los Angeles County affiliate, one of seven in California that had released a statement Thursday saying they were strongly opposed to the new policy, that they were working with national headquarters and would "not rest until this issue is resolved." The L.A. affiliate posted a message on its Facebook page noting that "the Los Angeles Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is very pleased that national Komen has revised their policy regarding funding. The Los Angeles Affiliate was among the many voices urging national Komen to reconsider their decision, and we are glad that all of our voices were heard. "It's all been very surprising," said Elizabeth Berger, president of the board for Komen's Los Angeles County chapter. Anne Morris, executive director for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut, based in Farmington, said her office had just released a letter of opposition to the plans to defund Planned Parenthood, only to receive an email message from Komen about the reversal a few hours later. Morris said she felt "very good. I think it's very positive. She said the Connecticut office received many calls and emails the last few days, most decrying Komen's earlier decision and a few backing it. "What's really important is to get back to the mission," Morris said. I, for one, have spent three full days on this. My time would be much better focused on breast-health needs in the state of Connecticut. Other Komen officials were also happy to get back to work.