Rockwall parents upset about fundraiser to help controversial Komen for the Cure

by J.J. Smith of TheRockwallNews.com

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Some parents said they don't want their tax dollars going to pay for salaries of administrative staff or teachers who are using work hours to organize and execute a large fundraiser.

ROCKWALL — Should Rockwall ISD be sponsoring a breast cancer awareness event to raise funds for the highly controversial “Komen for the Cure” in conjunction with the Rockwall vs. Heath football game coming September 28 at Wilkerson-Sanders stadium?

We will soon see if parents and taxpayers agree or object.

RISD announced Wednesday on its Facebook page that it plans to celebrate October as Breast Cancer Awareness month by holding its second annual “Pink Out” game at the “Clash for the Cause” at the Randall Noe I-30 Classic Football game between Rockwall and Heath High Schools.

Pink shirts will be sold at upcoming home games, and a portion of the $10 donation will be donated to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation.

The first annual event was held last year, but it was just before a huge nationwide controversy erupted after Komen founder Nancy Brinker angered pro-choice and Planned Parenthood supporters by stating Komen was cutting off donations to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading abortion provider.

Within days, after Planned Parenthood’s gigantic nationwide protest, she reversed the position and pledged to continue donating millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood for mammograms and breast exams.

Disappointed pro-life advocates then argued unsuccessfully that Planned Parenthood does not conduct any mammograms, only conducts breast exams that women can conduct themselves and argued the funds should, therefore, be donated to the mammogram clinics directly.

Since that controversy, dozens of Komen for the Cure staff members have left the organization and donations have decreased considerably, according to various news reports.

According to several upset parents who contacted RISD to object – who asked their names not be used – RISD spokespeople told them the school district was just trying to increase awareness about the need for breast cancer research and that it is too late now to change to which organization the funds go that are raised at the Pink Out.

Other parents have stated they don’t believe that a school district should sponsor any activity of this kind, and that school districts should just stick to teaching basic “reading, writing, and arithmetic.” They said they do not want their tax dollars going to pay for salaries of administrative staff or teachers who are using work hours to organize and execute a large fundraiser.

If you either agree or object to RISD donating dollars to Komen, and you want to call tell RISD, call the administration office at 972-771-0605.

Rockwall ISD did not respond to an email request from TheRockwallNews.com.

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