Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen (formerly known as Susan G. Komen for the Cure; originally as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; often referred to simply as Komen) is a breast cancer organization in the United States.[4]
Komen works on patient navigation and advocacy, providing resources for breast cancer patients to understand the American medical system.[5] They have funded research into the causes and treatment of breast cancer.[6] However, the organization has been mired by controversy over pinkwashing, allocation of research funding, and CEO pay. The foundation's revenue and public perception have steeply declined since 2010.[7]
History[edit]
The foundation's namesake, Susan Goodman Komen, died of breast cancer in 1980 at the age of 36.[8][9] Komen's younger sister, Nancy Brinker, who has stated that she believed Susan's outcome might have been better had she known more about cancer and its treatment, founded the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982.[9][10]
In 2008, the 25th anniversary of the organization, they changed the name to "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" and its logo to the pink ribbon.[11] The logo represents Komen's signature Race for the Cure event, a jogging race that raises money for the foundation.[12]
In December 2009, Nancy Brinker was appointed CEO of the organization.[13] Judith A. Salerno became CEO in 2012. In November 2016, the organization announced that Salerno would step down as CEO the following month.[14] In 2017, former fashion executive and breast cancer survivor Paula Schneider became the CEO.[15]
Fundraising[edit]
Cause marketing[edit]
As of 2013, Komen raised over $36 million a year from over 60 cause marketing partnerships.[25]