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TAMPA — More than 200 Planned Parenthood supporters gathered in Tampa for an annual luncheon Thursday, which many said couldn't have come at a better time.
Several women said they've been Komen supporters for years and are upset with the foundation's decision to pull funding to Planned Parenthood. To the women, it appears political.
They point to Komen's new senior vice president for public policy, Karen Handel, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Georgia in 2010 on a pro-life platform.
Planned Parenthood's regional president, Barbara Zdravecky, said it's sad two groups that each focus on women's health are having such problems.
"We should not be pitted against each other," she said.
But she told the group not to protest Komen or withhold support but instead to write letters, asking the foundation to change its decision.
Former state Sen. Betty Castor rallied the group for donations.
One by one, women stood up pledging $500 or $1,000 as the crowd cheered. Within minutes, they raised thousands for Planned Parenthood. And $10,000 of the total will be matched by a man who wishes to remain anonymous, Zdravecky said.
She plans to write a thank-you letter to Handel — for the donation made in her name.
Though the Komen foundation's decision has stirred ire nationwide, it's only one of many difficulties Florida's Planned Parenthood sees in the future of women's rights.
In Florida, the group finds three bills are particularly harmful, including corresponding abortion bills proposed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, that would make it difficult for new Planned Parenthood centers to open.
They also oppose a bill that would require doctors to sign an affidavit stating an abortion was not motivated by the fetus' sex or race, as well as a bill that would ban abortion at 20 weeks.
Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3433.
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