After 24 years, Arizona's Susan G. Komen chapter will shut down at the end of July.
"Closing Komen Arizona was a difficult decision, but was based on financial challenges and current downward trends in overall fundraising and event participation which limited our ability to continue to fulfill our mission locally," the chapter wrote in a letter posted online Wednesday.
The letter said the date coincided with the end of the chapter's agreement with the Komen organization.
BREAKING: #KomenAZ to close organization effective July 31st, 2017. Read more here: https://t.co/LlKp5YSyGC #KomenAZThanksYou pic.twitter.com/BmmesvaB1D
— Komen Arizona (@komenAZ) June 21, 2017
As a result, the "Race for the Cure" fundraiser that was scheduled for October has been canceled.
Registration and other fees for that event will be refunded, the organization said.
"Our focus now through July 31 is to maximize the available funds granted to local organizations, and to support the communities we serve during this transition," Executive Director of Arizona's chapter, Christina Mencuccini, and Jill Bray, board president for Susan G. Komen Arizona, said in the letter.
As of Wednesday, Komen Arizona says the national organization is hoping to have some sort of presence in our state and even continue to donate money, but how much and when remains unclear.
"We're working right now with Komen national to find ways that money can come back into Arizona," Mencuccini said.
Those organizations that were awarded grants will be funded through March 31, 2018, according to a news release.
The state will be transitioned to Komen's national mission and programs. Arizonans can still contact Komen for treatment, clinical trials and educations through the national help line, 1-877-GO-KOMEN or at www.Komen.org, the release said.
In 2013, the Associated Press reported that the Komen Foundation planned to cut half of its 3-Day races because of low participation.
FULL LETTER, as it was posted online.
Cancer Support Community Arizona (CSCAZ) shares the concern of our local community. At a time when
many in the cancer community are feeling devastated by the loss of the Susan G. Komen Arizona
organizations belong to the community and exist solely to serve the people in the community. Cancer
Support Community Arizona shares the mission of providing assistance to the underserved members of
our society and want to assure Arizonans that CSCAZ is committed and honored to offer support to
those who are impacted by cancer of any kind, at any stage, and at any age.
The Komen organization will continue to offer national support through a toll-free helpline while those
who need more personal and local contacts are welcome to attend our support groups, which are
facilitated by licensed, professional mental health providers at no cost to participants."
