United Way denies Planned Parenthood funding due to abortion policy

[TankLV]

DO NOT GIVE TO UNITED WAY!

STOP GIVING TO UNITED WAY!

GIVE DIRECTLY TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE INSTEAD.

These right wing fundy zealot idiots - but I am being redundant here - need to see how their misguided actions impact their existence...

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/143695.html

[SharonAnn]

1. At my workplace, I give through the United Way plan DIRECTLY to Planned Parenthood.

Nothing for any other United Way charity. I want them to see why they're not getting any money from me.

Also, in my contracting work all my donations (not huge amounts yet) go to Planned Parenthood.

They are so shortchanged by the government, United Way and other funding groups and they do some of the most important work of all of them. Helping women have reproductive health care that meets their needs.

I got my birth control pills from Planned Parenthood starting in 1967. I couldn't have afforded them any other way. Preventing pregnancy during those years allowed me to finish my education and develop a career. Without that, I would've been home tending babies with great anger. I know there are various methods of birth control, but the one that worked for me was the "the pill".

[likesmountains 52]

10. I do the same thing...and am employed by a Catholic hospital..I love it..

[Critters2]

2. Many states have workplace donation orgs that support

progressive agencies United Way won't touch. Check into Community Shares.

http://www.communitysharesusa.org/

[Jacobin]

3. That pretty much ends for me with them

[Yael]

4. This is a local Buffalo/Erie County issue, not national

[TankLV]

5. No - it's NATIONAL - this article just highlights what is happening in Western New York.

It is common practice for United Way NATIONALLY.

[libodem]

6. That's been common

where I live for at least the last 10 years.

[sam sarrha]

7. another terrorist action by the Christo-Fascists

[kineneb]

8. My two favorite charities: Planned Parenthood and EFF.

I give them something if I have it to spare. I never saw the need to go through United Way.

[sarcasmo]

9. Kick, I will never give to United Way.

[eridani]

11. You can designate recipient organizations

When United Way in King and Piece Counties cut Planned Parenthood off a few years back, designated donations doubled their take.

[defendandprotect]

12. Given it's history of corruption, why would anyone give to United Way -- ????

[mondo joe]

16. Because it's a well organized machine and there's a lot of pressure at the work

place in many cases.

[defendandprotect]

18. All the more reason to say "no" --

Also -- when corporations run "drives" for money for various charities --
I NEVER give money thru a third party.

[FloridaJudy]

13. I always did "directed donations" through my workplace

I simply could not give a blanket check to the United Way because I did not approve of some of the organizations they supported (the Knights of Columbus for their aggressive anti-choice politics, and the Boy Scouts for their anti-gay/anti-atheist policies). I guess I'm no different from a fundie in that sense: I don't like seeing my money spent to promote causes I disagree with either.

But I could check off those charities I wanted my donations to support. I usually chose Habit for Humanity, Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood and Amnesty International.

[TalkingDog]

14. I've only given once and directed the donation to the non-profit I work at.

I used to work with a fundy and we were the only two that wouldn't give to United Way. I thought they were too corrupt, she thought they were too liberal.

I believe(d) in homeschooling because many children are not taught in the most effective ways according to their needs nor to think critically.

She believed in homeschooling because she thought the public school system would corrupt her children.

It was interesting what we "agreed" on and how widely divergent the "why" of it was.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. This is the culmination of a 15-20 year attack on United Way by the

right-wing Christians. I had neighbors back then who were right-wing Christians and they came out and told me not to contribute to the United Way because their money went to organizations that supported abortion. I'm sure my neighbors heard it from their church.

[defendandprotect]

19. United Way, if I recall correctly, has had numerous instances of theft and other

questionable activities -- so they don't really need help from the right-wing to destroy themselves.

Evidently, a lot of people don't know this -- and/or the press is not reminding them.

On the other hand, the decisions now to go with the "gag rules" and block info re abortion/Planned Parenthood is sick.

I don't know, however, if the majority of those who contribute will actually be aware of this?

[mondo joe]

17. Mixed feelings about United Way: I prefer to give directly, because I'm just that

specific, and because I can cut out United Way's take so the recipient agency gets the full amount.

On the other hand, because United Way does workplace campaigns a lot of people give who otherwise might not bother, and there are MANY very excellent causes that do get funded by United Way, and one can always designate those that aren't.

So I'm glad it's there - even though it's not useful for me personally.