FORT WORTH -- Ann Greenhill calls 2012 a challenging year for Susan G. Komen For the Cure Greater Fort Worth Affiliate.
A fundraising controversy erupted after the national Komen organization decided to largely end its partnership with Planned Parenthood. The organization reversed course days later, which caused another backlash.Officials at local affiliates like Fort Worth found themselves fielding angry messages and registration for the local Race for the Cure dropped.But Tuesday morning, local Komen officials awarded $900,000 in grants to partner agencies that combat breast cancer, a celebration that Greenhill, executive director of the Fort Worth affiliate, said she hoped was another step in moving the organization past the hard feelings of 2012."It was tough, but we feel like we're moving past it," Greenhill said. "We still hope to regain the trust of people who maybe still don't support us."Despite the fundraising challenges, Komen Fort Worth awarded almost the same amount of money that it gave the year before, Greenhill said. The Concert for the Cure held at Bass Hall that featured LeAnn Rimes last January helped make up for a drop in donations.Greenhill said Komen's partner agencies have been supportive and that it was a pleasure to deliver the awards that will benefit women's health to 10 organizations Tuesday. The money will fund services ranginging from free digital screening mammograms to outreach services in immigrant communities.The affiliate has raised more than $21 million locally in its first 20 years, according to the organization."We strive to make an impact on the local community and fund organizations that provide services to uninsured and underinsured individuals that literally save lives, right here at home," Greenhill said.Melanie Wilson, president and CEO of Cancer Care Services in Fort Worth, said that it was difficult to watch the way the national Komen controversy impacted the local affiliate during the last year. The Cancer Care Center provides financial, social and emotional support to patients.The center received a $71,000 grant from Komen on Tuesday, she said."It was all happening on the national stage and wasn't something they had control over," Wilson said. "Komen has been so good to us and they have always been a tremendous partner in the community. We feel very good about their support."Britni Cannon, development director at the Bridge Breast Network, said the organization received $190,000 from Komen for diagnostic treatment services for men and women who have breast cancer. Treatment, such as chemotherapy, surguries and radiation, can potentially cost up to $20,000 a patient, she said.The grant money helps the organization assist more low-income, uninsured clients in 16 counties, she said.Alex Branch, 817-390-7689Twitter: @albranch1
Local Komen grants
10 organizations received grants totalling $900,000 from the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Greater Fort Worth Affiliate. They are:
All Saints Health Foundation Joan Katz Breast Center at Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Bridge Breast Network
Cancer Assistance Fund of North Texas
Cancer Care Services
Huguley Memorial Medical Center
UT Southwestern/Moncrief Cancer Institute
Muslim Community Center for Human Services
The JPS Foundation
Tarrant County Public Health
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.
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