This doesn't sound very "Charitable"

[daughtersrus]

As the mom of a child with a rare disease, this makes me sad. The disease that my DD has is what they call an "orphan" disease. In other words, it doesn't affect enough people so there is very little, if any funding available. Really, the only thing out there is what grass-root organizations can come up with.

I don't really see how it would hurt breast cancer research if we had a charity event for the cure of Alpha Mannosidosis or chose to use the color pink in the advertising.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/komen-foundation-charities-cure_n_793176.html?ref=fb&src=sp

 

[TnTsParty]

No that isn't ver charitable of them - kind of taints me to anything related to the Komen Race for the Cure events - which is really sad. They should be more worried about raising funds for breast cancer research and what not than protecting their image.

 

[tlbwriter]

No, that's not charitable at all. I can see why they would need to protect their trademark against pseudocharities who would want to piggyback on their recognized name and cause confusion, but if it's for a completely different disease, how does it hurt them?

 

[HannaBelle]

Wow.



That is terrible.

 

[momof1princess]

i think this is very uncharitable and petty of them. if the money is going for cancer research, what does it matter if a local event uses "for the cure" in their name? knowing that komen spent $1 million in legal fees last year just to try to squash local events like the ones mentioned in the article makes me MUCH less inclined to donate.

 

[bookgirl]

I could understand "race for the Cure" being a trademark and them fighting to keep others from using it but just "for the Cure" is petty and tacky. There are plenty of smaller charities that could use my funds for more important things then Komens 'corperate mentality". Think I'll let them know that as well.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That is reason enough to never support them, ever again for as long as I live.

 

[Hoodie]

Honestly, this isn't the first negative thing I'd heard about Komen. I found other places to send my money a while ago. This just reinforces my choice.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I am going to get flack for this, but I have problems with the Susan G. Koman Foundation. It gets an disproportionate amount of attention. And apparently it's run like a evil corporation.

"October is Breast Cancer Month!" It gets plastered everywhere. That's spiffy. I'm glad people are aware of breast cancer. Why isn't there a "Coronary Heart Disease Month" with a blue ribbon? Or stroke? Long cancer? Pulmonary disease? Why does the media and the NFL and everybody and there mom focus only on this one disease? I do understand that it's #9 on the list of top 10 killers in First World Countries. What about the 8 that kill more people?

 

[Handbag Lady]

OP, do you have a link to where I can send a donation to your child's-related issue?

I donate annually to Komen, but that's going to stop today. I had did some other research on Komen just now, and this is too much. I had no idea my money was supporting that and not going to the typical 60/40 or 80/20 that I'm very used to with the charities I support. I'm kinda mad at myself for not doing more research in the first place.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

This is the problem with people being able to trademark common, everyday words and phrases. And let's face it, finding a cure for anything can become big business and that's the sad thing. It may have started out as grass roots, but it has become a business.

I happen to recall a while ago another organization who was chasing after small organizations who it thought was using their name and their property, which was actually gotten from another huge organization.

 

[SaraJayne]

You're right...it isn't charitable of them at all.

Thanks for sharing the article. They won't be getting another dime from me.

 

[mla1977]

I enjoy partcipating in Race for the Cure, but I do not think that this is a good organization. Too much of the money donated does not actually go to finding a cure, but to stupid stuff like this. I'm a huge fan of Team in Training because of how high a percentage of the donations go directly to the mission. There are so many other charities out there that use their money wisely that I don't really want to continue to donate to Komen.

 

[kirstenb1]

Hey OP, I really feel for you all and your dd. There are many orphan diseases, and it's sad how little funding/research there is available.

I had no idea that Komen was such a bully. Thanks for the article. I'll keep it in mind. Most of our donations go to autism-related causes, but I've donated to Komen in the past in honor of a close friend.

 

[SaraJayne]

I've shared that article on my Facebook page, and I already see a couple friends have shared it on their pages, as well.

 

[akhenaten]

I've shared that article on my Facebook page, and I already see a couple friends have shared it on their pages, as well.

I shared it too... it is disgusting..

Like the OP i also have other diseases for which I want a "cure" and i find it offensive that they could copyright that and bully other charitable organizations!

 

[FINFAN]

Honestly, this isn't the first negative thing I'd heard about Komen. I found other places to send my money a while ago. This just reinforces my choice.

same here...I rmember in the late 70's...my firneds mom was diagnosed with BC, and she was put on an experimental drug, which is now widely used. My friend sais for the first few years SGK was a bright spot for them, but she saw very quickly how "uncharitable" they were. She was so torn because everyone expected her to support SGK based on her own mom having cancer, but she pegged them way back. I remember her asking me NOT to participate in their walk, to choose another charity to help cancer, that's how disenchanted she is/was.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Honestly, this isn't the first negative thing I'd heard about Komen. I found other places to send my money a while ago. This just reinforces my choice.

Ditto.

 

[minniecarousel]

My family is affected by two different "orphan" diseases - I think that SGKomen has received their last penny from me.

How dare they think they have a trademark on the term "Cure"?! Do they really think that breast cancer is the only disease that needs a cure?

 

[RitaZ.]

OP, thanks for posting this. I had no idea.