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Susan G. Komen Foundation Apologizes for Cutting Off Planned Parenthood
DALLAS, TX, (SLFP.com), February 3, 2012 - Three days after announcing that The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation was planning to eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood, the charity reversed its decision.
In a statement Susan G. Komen Board of Directors and Founder and CEO Nancy G. Brinker said:
"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.
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. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.
Our only goal for our granting process is to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer. Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process. We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.
It is our hope and we believe it is time for everyone involved to pause, slow down and reflect on how grants can most effectively and directly be administered without controversies that hurt the cause of women. We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics -- anyone's politics.
Starting this afternoon, we will have calls with our network and key supporters to refocus our attention on our mission and get back to doing our work. We ask for the public's understanding and patience as we gather our Komen affiliates from around the country to determine how to move forward in the best interests of the women and people we serve.
We extend our deepest thanks for the outpouring of support we have received from so many in the past few days and we sincerely hope that these changes will be welcomed by those who have expressed their concern."
Planned Parenthood has reported receiving an outpouring of donations in the past three days. Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said "The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity."
"During the last week, millions spontaneously joined a national conversation about lifesaving breast cancer prevention care and reinforced shared values about access to health care for all. This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological, and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation's better moments during a contentious political time. Planned Parenthood thanks each and every person who has contributed to elevating the importance of breast cancer prevention for so many women in need."
Rebirth of Auto Industry in Missouri May Bring New Jobs
WENTZVILLE, MO, (SLFP.com), January 29, 2012 - The bipartisan Missouri Works strategy provides specific tools to create new jobs in the automotive supplier industry, Gov. Jay Nixon said today during a visit to Lear Seating Corp. in Wentzville.
In his State of the State Address last week, Gov. Nixon detailed Missouri Works, a specific strategy to create jobs and career opportunities in the new economy. A key pillar of Missouri Works is growing more auto supplier jobs across Missouri.
This week, a bipartisan coalition of Senators and Representatives introduced legislation to implement the auto supplier proposal contained in Missouri Works. Sponsors of the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 691, include Minority Floor Leader Sen. Victor Callahan (D-Independence) and Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), chair of the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations Committee.
The lead sponsor of the House version of the bill, House Bill 1455, is Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, (R-Lake Saint Louis), chair of the House Local Government Committee. Other sponsors include House Speaker Steven Tilley (R-Perryville); Majority Floor Leader Tim Jones (R-Eureka); Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-Gladstone), the chair of the House International Trade and Job Creation Committee; House Minority Floor Leader Mike Talboy (D-Kansas City); House Assistant Minority Floor Leader Tishaura Jones (D-St. Louis); House Minority Whip Mike Colona (D-St. Louis); Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia), ranking member on the House Economic Development Committee; and Rep. Bert Atkins (D-Florissant), chair of the House Labor Caucus.
"The rebirth of the American auto industry is underway here in Missouri, and we have an unprecedented opportunity to grow and expand the auto supplier network throughout our state," Gov. Nixon said. "As Ford and GM invest a combined $1.5 billion to create 3,200 new jobs in Missouri, we must build on this investment to expand our network of existing suppliers and bring new suppliers to the state. Our bipartisan Missouri Works strategy includes specific tools to grow new auto supplier jobs in Missouri, and I look forward to working with folks on both sides of the aisle to get this bill to my desk as quickly as possible."
This bipartisan legislation will provide economic tools to help existing automotive suppliers expand and to bring new suppliers to our state. Under the legislation, suppliers will be eligible for economic incentives if they meet specific requirements for job-creation and capital investment. Employers must pay wages equal to or above the county average and provide health insurance benefits to employees.
"Creating jobs and putting Missourians back to work is our top priority," said Rep. Talboy, the House Democratic Leader. "This bipartisan legislation will give us important new tools to help existing auto suppliers expand and to bring new suppliers to our state during a time of critical growth in our automotive industry. We commend Gov. Nixon for his leadership on this vital legislation, and we will work with him and with our Republican colleagues every step of the way."
Lear Seating Corp. is one of the leading manufacturers of vehicle seats and works with automakers around the world, supplying completed seats for not only cars, trucks and vans but also premium cars and performance vehicles. The company supplies the seats for the General Motors full-size van operations in Wentzville and has been doing business in Missouri since 1996.
St. Louis Ranked One of the Most Online Generous Cities
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 29, 2012 - The City of St. Louis earned the #10 spot on the fourth annual ranking of Most Generous Online U.S. Cities 2011 report by Convio, Inc.
The biggest movers in the top ten from the 2010 annual ranking are Seattle rising three spaces to number one; Cambridge, MA falling three spaces from number two to number five; and Ann Arbor, MI moving up three spaces from number nine to number six.
The report ranks the 273 cities with total population of more than 100,000 based on per capita online giving and total amount donated through Convio's online marketing and fundraising suites. The average gift size remained steady in 2011 compared to 2010 at $65, as more than $435 million was donated by people who reside in the 273 major cities. The donors in the most generous cities increased their total online contributions by more than 11 percent over 2010.
The 2011 rankings are based on the almost $1.355 billion in total online donations generated through the Convio online marketing and fundraising suite that powers the online efforts of thousands of the nation's leading nonprofit organizations. The current rankings come from donations processed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011.
"According to a May 2011 study by Pew Internet, 96 percent of American adults with annual incomes greater than $75 thousand are online," said Gene Austin, chief executive officer of Convio. "The Internet is a key component of a comprehensive, integrated constituent engagement and fundraising strategy. Our 2011 U.S. online giving data reinforces that nonprofits are increasingly leveraging the Internet to generate more meaningful relationships, raise more money and maximize the lifetime value of every individual they touch."
From a regional perspective based on the U.S. Census grouping of states, the top 25 large cities have the South achieving the #1 spot (three cities in the top ten), followed by the West, then the Midwest and lastly the Northeast.
Bi-State Development Agency Receives $1.6 Million Transportation Grant
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 29, 2012 - The Bi-State Development Agency received a $1.6 million grant through the Department of Transportation. These funds will help supply buses with diesel particulate filter cleaning equipment, retrofit Metro buses with electronic cooling systems, and upgrade and develop a transit asset management system.
In a release, Congressman Russ Carnahan said, "This is great news for the Bi-State Development Agency and for MetroLink. This grant will help develop and expand our public transit system, which will help grow our economy and create jobs, while keeping our air clean and our children healthy."
In line with the goals of this grant, Carnahan recently introduced the Local Flexibility for Transit Assistance Act, which would allow transit systems to use their federal funds to keep service on the street by allowing local control of federal funds. It also allows for greater flexibility for smaller transit agencies that don't have the budget to maintain services during difficult economic times, and rewards areas that have shown a continued dedication to funding their transit agencies. 139 Members of Congress have cosponsored this legislation.
The Bi-State Development Agency project was selected for a federal grant on a competitive basis from the State of Good Repair Program, and the project selection was first announced in November. Notice of the final award amount was given yesterday. The completion of these projects will assist Bi-State Development Agency in maintaining and upgrading their current and future transit service.
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