NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
After three days of controversy, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity says it is reversing its decision to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood.
"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," a Komen statement said.
As first reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday, Komen had adopted criteria excluding Planned Parenthood from grants because it was under government investigation, notably a probe launched in Congress at the urging of anti-abortion groups.
Komen said Friday it would change the criteria so it wouldn't apply to such investigations.
"We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants," the statement said.
Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee doesn't receive any Susan G. Komen funding but it's gotten a weeks worth of phone calls about the issue.
"They were angry, they were outraged that Komen would defund Planned Parenthood," Jeff Teague with the group's Middle Tennessee chapter told Nashville's News 2.
According to Teague, the anger at Komen turned into an unusual number of donations this week.
"We have had people walk into our health centers and give us donations [and we] have received several in the mail so far," he said.
The Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen couldn't comment directly because it gives no money to the local Planned Parenthood but said it's "granted more than $2.2 million" in Race to the Cure money to "organizations that provide breast cancer screenings, education and treatment to women in our 11-county area."
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.
