Susan G. Komen chapter: Donations down

NEWARK, N.J., June 21 (UPI) -- A New Jersey chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure said the flap over the breast-cancer charity's ties to Planned Parenthood has hurt fundraising.

The North Jersey group said it is about $300,000 shy of its fundraising target, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported. The chapter's fiscal year ends April 1, and its fundraising for the 2012 Race for the Cure ends July 1. Robin Ventura, the board president, said the local Race for the Cure, the premier fundraising event, had about 2,500 fewer registrants this year than in 2011.

Last year, the chapter raised $1.5 million, for the first time bringing in more than its target. This year, it set a goal of $1.3 million.

In January, the national organization announced it was changing the rules for grant recipients, a move that specifically barred Planned Parenthood from funding. The move prompted a fierce backlash and the change was reversed, but many former donors are still angry.

"This is not something that will be replaced by the federal government or anything else," Ventura said. "This is just money that will not get to where it needs to go."