Susan G. Komen, the Dallas-based breast cancer organization, is reorganizing and plans to integrate its affiliates back into its national operations.
Of the five state affiliate offices, three are in North Texas. The organization said it will turn its focus to three areas: research, direct patient support and advocacy.
Susan G. Komen is one of the largest, most well-known non-profit organizations founded in Dallas. A spokesperson says the decision to downsize was accelerated by hardships associated with the coronavirus.
Komen will always be linked to the color pink and fight against breast cancer. President and CEO Paula Schneider said continuing the fight in a global pandemic means tough decisions must be made.
“We live and breathe off donor money, so we want to make sure that we’re doing the best that we can,’ said Schneider.
The solution was to consolidate, which ultimately means operations withing the Dallas-based organization will become leaner. The current model consists of many different chapters.
“It’s sort of like a franchise model,” said Schneider. “We have sixty affiliates around the country. Each one of those has their own governance.”
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As it moves toward the new plan, Komen will likely cut marketing, finance and fundraising positions at those individual chapters. Offices space in Dallas and Fort Worth could be eliminated at a later time as well.
Schneider said funding is down year over year. And with coronavirus threatening Race For The Cure events, leaders have to figure out how they’ll support breast cancer patients.
“We give money to people that are going through treatment,” Schneider said. “They are challenged because they have either lost their job or they have to make choices as to whether or not they’re going to put food on the table.”
In a press release, the organization said it will continue to focus on innovative breakthrough research, direct patient support and advocacy.
The press release reads in part:
“Komen noted that while its community presence will evolve, individuals and corporate partners will continue to have opportunities to show their passion and support through fundraising, whether in person or virtually at events like its signature Komen Race for the Cure and More Than Pink Walk family events and its Komen 3-Day, 60-mile endurance walks.”
The bottom line is no money means no mission. This is about survival and being able to serve the community.
“These really are unprecedented times. We’re on rocky waters. You have to make decisions. You have to be strategic about what you’re going to deliver,” Schneider said.
A Komen spokesperson told NBC 5 the consolidation process will take about a year to complete, with 30 chapters undergoing the process within the first six months.
Komen said the change will not affect its events like Race For The Cure, the More Than Pink Family Walk and the Komen 3-Day Walk.
