Today I received an email from the Central/South Jersey Affiliate of the Komen Foundation. I had volunteered and raised money for them back in October 2011 and they finally got around to addressing their supporters.
There was no apology for the poor decision making, or attempts at any explanation, or any evidence of intent to change the way they do things. Instead the email was basically an appeal to not desert them, by pleading to remember why I and everyone else thought Komen was a worthwile organization to raise or donate money to.
This sentence was the sum total of their acknowledgment of the major catastrophe that has occurred over the last two weeks.
The past few weeks have certainly been trying on our organization, its supporters, and for me on a personal level.
It was heavy on playing the guilt card, with talking about how the leader of the Affiliate is a survivor who finds meaning in life through her involvement with Komen.
As a two time breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand the devastating impact of this disease. This is not just a job to me; it is my passion and my life’s work. Shortly after my first diagnosis at the age of 36, I began my career with Komen and immediately embraced the mission of a world without breast cancer
and reminded the reader of the warm, fuzzy feelings one gets when participating in a pink event and seeing survivors there. They did go on to remind me of the programs they help, and noted that 75% of the
funds raised goes to local programs that can't survive without Komen, and that 25%
of revenues goes towards finding a cure. I'm not clear on the distinction between funds raised and revenues but since this debacle happened, I recall reading that they have some of the highest overhead in the business.
The only apology was for the loss of trust in them they caused, with a promise to not do anything differently, yet somehow rebuild trust in them.
But, I know your trust in Komen has been breached, and I apologize. As we all reflect on the recent events, I would hope you can look back and remember why you supported Central and South Jersey in the first place.
We are renewing our promise to you that we will work toward rebuilding that trust as best we can. Our commitment to Central and South Jersey remains the same. That has not changed - not in the 18 years since I have been with Komen, not last week, and not now.
Please remember why you joined with us and how you helped us to help so many. We do.
This glossing over the problem puts a really bad taste in my mouth. I am certainly done with them.