January 12, 2018
Dear Komen Utah Friends, Supporters and Partners:
As some of you may have heard, Komen Utah’s Board of Directors has
voted to close the Utah Affiliate’s office and transition fundraising and
mission program responsibilities to Susan G. Komen’s national organization
based in Dallas, Texas. Over the past several months and after a thorough
analysis of our long-term financial status, our board and staff researched
several options, including merging with another affiliate or closing the affiliate
and shifting operations to national. We are notifying you before our official
public announcement because we are mindful of how this change may impact many
of you.
Despite a successful, fun and well-attended gala last November,
the financial forecast for the next two years does not demonstrate
sustainability. For example, participation at our signature fundraising event,
Race for the Cure, has significantly declined over the past several years,
resulting in 60 percent less revenue. The board’s vote was not an easy
decision, but a necessary one at this time.
While talking with our National colleagues to see how together we
can continue to serve our community, we’ve recognized the need to evolve our
structure to respond to the new environment in which Komen and other nonprofits
operate, including the changing healthcare landscape, rapid changes in
treatment and delivery, a competitive event environment, and tighter
competition for donor dollars. Across the country, National has been working to
improve efficiency in operations by streamlining the Affiliate network,
primarily through merging of neighboring affiliates that serve the same region
and can operate stronger together. For us in Utah, we need to work with
National to explore a new model for geographically-distant affiliates like ours
that need additional support. This concept would enable us to serve the Utah
communities more efficiently by pooling resources and providing the possibility
of expanding regionally in the future.
So, what do these changes mean for Utah? As we wind down our local
operations, our prime focus is to continue to maximize the funds available for
the local organizations that we have served over the years. Organizations that
were already slated for grants this past grant cycle will receive their full
funding grant as planned through March 31. Those grantees provide screenings,
patient navigation, diagnostic service, and other support services. Women and
men facing breast cancer in Utah will continue to have access to financial
assistance programs, screening support, treatment assistance, and education and
support resources through Komen’s national programs.
We express our sincerest thank you to all of you who have
supported Komen Utah over the years through your generous donations and
sponsorships, your volunteer efforts, your community fundraising events, and
your services to breast cancer patients and their families. With your
tremendous help we were able to contribute $7M in mammograms, treatment
assistance and psychosocial support programs, and over $3M in research grants
to help find cures for breast cancer. A significant percentage of the research
dollars raised in Utah for national research was returned to Utah to the
Huntsman Cancer Institute.
While we no longer will have a local office in Utah at this time,
Komen’s commitment to the people of Utah remains strong. Volunteer and event
fundraising opportunities will continue as Komen National re-establishes a
local team and programs. Residents can continue to call on Susan G. Komen
through its national helpline and other resources. The Komen Advocacy team also
will continue to call on Utah advocates to support legislative or public policy
positions benefiting breast cancer research, treatment and access to care at
the federal and state levels.
We know this news may raise questions and possible concerns, but
hope you’ll understand this was a necessary decision based on our financial
situation, and that building a stronger, more sustainable organization that
continues to fulfill local breast cancer needs is first and foremost in our
minds. We encourage you to continue your interest in and support of Susan G.
Komen’s mission to end breast cancer. Thank you all!
Sincerely,
Komen Utah Board of Directors
Note: The Utah office will remain
open through January as we wind down operations. Any correspondence or
questions should be directed to the local office at info@komenutah.org,
801-733-4815, or to Sean Tuffnell with our Komen National team at 972-855-4375 or
by email at stuffnell@komen.org.
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