Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge announces disaffiliation from national organization, closure of operations

Posted: Dec 2, 2020 / 04:59 PM EST / Updated: Dec 3, 2020 / 07:36 AM EST

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge, the regional breast cancer affiliate announced on Wednesday that it will elect to disaffiliate from its recently restructured parent organization, Susan G. Komen.

The election will formally take effect on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The move will result in the closure of local operations, the layoff of two staff members, and the distribution of $500,000 in restricted gifts to local healthcare groups to direct towards breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and patient services.

In April, Komen Headquarters announced a series of changes to its operations that included centralizing the operations of its Affiliate Network through the closure of 60 local offices and integrating the operations of the affiliates into its Dallas headquarters.

“Komen Headquarters has stressed they are not pulling out of affiliate communities. The reality is that, money raised locally will no longer be as directly accessible to the people here in Southwest Virginia – particularly underinsured and at-risk individuals.”
Catherine Warren, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge

The Virginia Blue Ridge Affiliate Board of Directors voted last month to disaffiliate effective on Dec. 3, 2020, and selected the following regional organizations to receive funding:

Ballad Health
Carilion Clinic
Centra’s Pearson Cancer Center
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Carla Finkielstein
Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness
Piedmont Access to Health Services
Virginia Department of Health, Mount Rogers

Since being founded in 2006, Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge has funded $4.78 million in support of their promise to end breast cancer.

Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge has invested $3.45 million in community breast health services and $1.33 million in breast cancer research.

While Thursday, Dec. 3 marks the official date of disaffiliation, March 31, 2021 will mark the day that operations will formally cease at Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge.