GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay Packers Foundation is receiving backlash from football fans after awarding one of its annual grants to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Since 1986 the Packers Foundation has awarded nearly $12.7 million worth of grants to Wisconsin organizations, but a recent donation to the organization has some pro-life advocates asking questions.
“Pro-Life of Wisconsin is absolutely outraged and we want an explanation. Any money given to Planned Parenthood is too much.” said state director Dan Miller.
This year the foundation awarded $1 million to 192 organizations focused on improving health and wellness in their community.
In a statement from the Packers, it says the money given to Planned Parenthood of Milwaukee is for a specific program dedicated to reaching Latino families in southeastern Wisconsin. It went on to say that grant applicants are considered specifically for their initiatives and do not necessarily imply endorsement of other actions by the organization.
Miller tells FOX 11….
“The program that Planned Parenthood has is called Cuidándonos Creceremos más Sanos, which means we are all growing healthier together. There is nothing healthier about abortions ask any baby that’s been aborted.”
In response to the criticism, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Wisconsin released a statement, saying just like the Packers we have support in every single county in Wisconsin. It also says the organization works each day to increase access to preventive health care and education to keep all Wisconsinites safe, healthy and strong.
Here is the full statement from Tanya Atkinson, President, and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin:
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has deep support across our state. We have thousands of donors, including foundations, community organizations, and individuals. Just like the Packers, we have supporters in every single county in Wisconsin. The reason for this is simple — it’s because we’re there for Wisconsinites when they need us, no matter what. We work each day to increase access to preventive health care and education to keep all Wisconsinites safe, healthy, and strong.The Green Bay Packers Foundation specifically invested in a local program called Cuidándonos Creceremos más Sanos (CCmáS). This is an innovative Spanish language education program that empowers people to take charge of their health. This is particularly important in Wisconsin. The Medical College of Wisconsin is predicting cancer rates among Hispanic women will double in the next 10 years. Programs like CCmáS serve as a critical connector between patients and the health care they need.
Here is the Packers organization’s full statement:
The Packers Foundation was established in 1986. Since then, it has distributed nearly $12.7 million to more than 2,800 organizations throughout Wisconsin. The Foundation’s support is for specific initiatives that are available to all.This year’s focus included health and wellness, and included a grant for the Cuidándonos Creceremos más Sanos (CCmáS) Program, which means “growing healthier together.” It is a Planned Parenthood of Milwaukee initiative dedicated to reaching Latino families in southeastern Wisconsin, an underserved population, with language- and culturally-specific health education they would not normally receive. The Foundation doesn’t disclose the specific amount of grants, but this type of grant from the Foundation ranges between $3,000 and $7,000.The Packers and the Foundation certainly understand there are individuals who disagree with some aspect of one or more of the 2,800 organizations that have been supported since 1986. The Packers and the Foundation respect those views. Grant applications are considered specific to their initiatives and do not necessarily imply endorsement of other actions by the organizations. Some specific initiatives that have received grants have been components of pro-life organizations, including Veritas, a program of Right to Life Wisconsin.
