Komen Will Fund Planned Parenthood This Year

"The consumer should not be ignored. I think that people, in a sense, drive the direction of your company," said Nalene Rampersaud, a social media expert and owner of InSense Miami.JP Hervis, president of Insider Media Management, says Komen needs to work hard to rebuild its non-partisan reputation.

"They have to remind everybody, they're not about blue state beliefs. They're not about ref state beliefs. They're about pink ribbon beliefs. And those beliefs are all about helping people who really need it," said Hervis.

Across the nation, and in South Florida, sponsors and donors made calls and raised a stink about what had happened.

Tuesday, Komen said it would no longer give money to Planned Parenthood due to a single Congressman's investigation of the organization and whether federal money was used for abortions by Planned Parenthood.

"We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives," Komen said in a statement.

"I'm very happy today when I found out that they are reversing their decision as they should," said Robbie Bell, a breast cancer survivor. "And apparently, their decision to cut the funds was a bit hasty."

For Bell, the issue is close to her heart. She is a member of the original Komen board and participated in the race for the cure for years. But, when Komen made their move earlier this week, she nearly cut contacts with Komen.

The previous criteria barred grants to any organization that's under local, state or federal investigation. Planned Parenthood is being investigated for alleged financial improprieties by a Republican congressman acting with the encouragement of anti-abortion groups.

"Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation," the Komen Foundation said in statement. "We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair."

Planned Parenthood said the funding cutoff was a result of Komen succumbing to pressure from anti-abortion activists.

The move by Komen to reverse itself came less than 24 hours after Komen's founder Nancy Brinker said the overwhelming response had been positive to the groups decision.

The Komen Foundation sought to quell the criticism and change the discussion in their statement.

"It is our hope and we believe it is time for everyone involved to pause, slow down and reflect on how grants can most effectively and directly be administered without controversies that hurt the cause of women," the Foundation said. "We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics – anyone's politics. "

Planned Parenthood said the Komen grants totaled roughly $680,000 last year and $580,000 the year before, going to 19 of its affiliates for breast-cancer screening and other breast-health services. According to Planned Parenthood, its health centers performed more than 4 million breast exams over the past five years, including nearly 170,000 as a result of Komen grants.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a breast cancer survivor herself, said she was happy the dispute had been settled thanks to the voice of America's women.

"This week, Americans made it clear that they support women having access to vital breast health services, including breast cancer prevention and awareness. This outcome is proof of the power of collective voices coming together to effect change and save women's lives," Wasserman Schultz said.