Michigan City's Rotary Criticized for Funding Planned Parenthood

LifeNews.com ^ | January 6, 2004 | Paul Nowak

[nickcarraway]

Traverse City, MI (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood Northern Michigan received a $10,000 grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City in the organization's fall grant cycle.

The non-profit Rotary awarded $289,100 to 10 groups, including a center for homeless youths, a conservancy group, and the restoration of a historic ship. The abortion business was given the money to fund so-called abstinence education programs.

Officials from Rotary Charities of Traverse City were unavailable for comment, despite repeated requests from LifeNews.com.

The donation doesn't go over well with pro-life advocates.

"Abstinence educational programs can positively impact our young people, but I have serious reservations regarding any program organized by Planned Parenthood," Pam Sherstad, Director of Public Information for Michigan Right to Life, told LifeNews.com "An organization which promotes abortion as the solution to untimely pregnancies completely disregards the truth that all human life deserves our respect and support."

"Too many people give to charities without knowing how the money will be used," continued Sherstad. "The Rotary Charities is a good example. While many positive community services are supported, any funds provided to Planned Parenthood should raise a red flag, especially for pro-life people."

This is not the first organization in Traverse City to draw criticism from pro-life groups.

In July, the Traverse City Cherry Festival committee barred a pro-life student group from marching in its annual parade because committee members felt that the group's "Choose Life" message was too controversial. The group had marched in the Festival's Junior Royale Parade for the previous 8 years.

A change was made in the 2003 rules and regulations, stating "Units sponsored by or depicting a political organization or controversial issue will not be permitted in the parade."

"I was disgusted really," Andrea Becker of Students for Life told the Record-Eagle. "We purposefully try to not put the word 'abortion' on the sign, and we purposefully tried to avoid the controversy in the first place. They allowed us before and now all of a sudden they don't."

The Cherry Festival committee's decision also drew criticism from state legislators. Sens. Michelle McManus and Jason Allen, and Reps. Howard Walker and David Palsrok wrote a letter asking the festival's committee to reconsider and accept the group's application in 2004.

[mvpel]

Planned Parenthood is a high dollar money making organization which receives money from the government as well as automatic contributions from United Way

Following is a partial financial breakdown of Planned Parenthood's income for 1997 (Financial Statement - available on request)

The income of Planned Parenthood is 531 million a year! Here's the percentage breakdown:

• 34 percent from the fees charged at their clinics (abortions, vasectomies, birth control pills)
• 33.5 percent comes from OUR tax dollars (That's almost 178 million, by the way!)
• 26 percent comes from grants from foundations and corporations.
• 5.8 percent from various other sources including grants to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood.
• Approximately 118 million of the clinic income came from selling birth control devices. Almost 71 percent of Planned Parenthood clients use the birth control (abortifacient) pill resulting in a profit of $65 million from selling the pill.

In other words, what is the Rotary thinking??

[nickcarraway]

ping

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[PeterPrinciple]

"The abortion business was given the money to fund so-called abstinence education programs. "

Yes, good idea, they are real passionate about this issue.

[Mr. Silverback]

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[SpinyNorman]

You said it! They can't make a buck off of abstinence! It would be self defeating for the abortion enthusiast's employment.....

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[farmfriend]

bttt

[nickcarraway]

If they trust PP to teach abstinence education, they should trust Philip Morris to tell kids not to smoke.

[nickcarraway]

It's a win-win proposition for PP. Every kids who fails their ``abstinence'' class means $$$$ in their pocket.

[cyborg]

The birth control pill is NOT an abortifacient device. If a woman buys a birth control pill,or some other form protection from PP what business is it of these people?