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Coronavirus forces closure of Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa

Coronavirus forces closure of Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa
FROM THIS ORGANIZATION. TODD: FOR DECADES, THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WOULD WALK RIGHT HERE ON LOCUST ON THEIR WAY TO THE STATEHOUSE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN FOUNDATION. NOW THAT’S COMING TO AN END. >> IT IS SAD. TODD: IT’S A SAD DAY FOR URBANDALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR KRISTIE SWICK. THE RACE FOR THE CURE WAS ALWAYS A BRIGHT SPOT DURING A FRIGHTENING TIME IN HER LIFE. AND THAT’S WHY NEWS OF THE IOWA KOMEN GROUP SHUTTING DOWN IS HARD TO HEAR >> BEING A BREAST CANC SURVIVOR MYSELF, I DID ALL THE WALKS, AND YOU LOOK FOR ANY TYPE OF SUPPORT AND MAINLY JU FRIENDSHIP OF THE LADIES THA YOU MEET. TODD: CENTRALIOWA FAMILIES NOT ONLY WALKED TO COMMEMORATE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS, THEY RAISED MORE THAN $19 MILLION OVER THE YEARS. BUT IT’S BEEN HARD TO RAISE ANY MONEY DURING THE LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID-19. THAT’S WHY THE NATIONAL KOM GROUP ANNOUNCED IT IS CONSOLIDATING, AND STATE AFFILIATES WILL CLOSE. >> OBVIOUSLY A LOT CHANGED THIS YEAR WITH COVID, AND THAT HA HAD A BIG IMPACT ON MANY THINGS. TODD: IT’S ALSO A SAD DAY FOR THE IOWA BOARD CHAIRPERSON REBECA BROMMEL. HER BOARD HAS DECIDED TO DONATE ALL REMAINING FUNDS TO SEVERAL SUPPORT CHARITIES IN IOWA, RATHER THAN GIVE IT TO THE PARENT ORGANIZATION BASED IN TEXA >> IT’S ALL VERY PERSONAL TO US. WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GAVE U THE FUNDS, THAT WE TOLD THEM WE HAD TOLD THEM THAT WHEN WE RAISED THOSE FUNDS THAT AT LEAST 75% OF THEM WOULD BE USED TO HELP WOMEN LOCALLY AND THE OTHER 25% GOES TO RESEARCH, AND WE WANTED TO ADHERE TO THE PROMISE THAT WE MADE. TODD: AND A REMINDER, THERE ARE STILL MANY OTHER LOCAL CHA
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Coronavirus forces closure of Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa
Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa has announced plans Tuesday to shut down all operations. The local chapter of the Breast Cancer awareness organization says it will disaffiliate with the national group. They plan to distribute their $525,000 to local programs that support breast cancer screening and treatments. “The KGI Board of Directors’ decision to end its affiliation with the national office was driven by the desire to help those affected by breast cancer in our service area,” Board Chair Becki Brommel said in a news release. “The funds we are distributing were raised here in greater Iowa, and we believe the donors provided these funds to support programs that help individuals living in our current greater Iowa service area.”The closure will officially take place on March 31. All staff will be laid off. Susan G. Komen said Tuesday, "More than half of the organization’s independent local Affiliates have now transitioned into the new, single entity structure. As part of this multiphase transition, Susan G. Komen will officially assume responsibility for supporting the area from Komen Greater Iowa effective March 31, 2021, although anyone living in Iowa may access Komen’s national support programs immediately."KCCI's Todd Magel will have more on this story on KCCI 8 News at 5 and 6 and the KCCI Breaking News and Weather App.

Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa has announced plans Tuesday to shut down all operations.

The local chapter of the Breast Cancer awareness organization says it will disaffiliate with the national group.

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They plan to distribute their $525,000 to local programs that support breast cancer screening and treatments.

“The KGI Board of Directors’ decision to end its affiliation with the national office was driven by the desire to help those affected by breast cancer in our service area,” Board Chair Becki Brommel said in a news release. “The funds we are distributing were raised here in greater Iowa, and we believe the donors provided these funds to support programs that help individuals living in our current greater Iowa service area.”

The closure will officially take place on March 31. All staff will be laid off.

Susan G. Komen said Tuesday, "More than half of the organization’s independent local Affiliates have now transitioned into the new, single entity structure. As part of this multiphase transition, Susan G. Komen will officially assume responsibility for supporting the area from Komen Greater Iowa effective March 31, 2021, although anyone living in Iowa may access Komen’s national support programs immediately."

KCCI's Todd Magel will have more on this story on KCCI 8 News at 5 and 6 and the KCCI Breaking News and Weather App.