Damage control has begun.
Via NOLA Com
United Way Worldwide said Friday (July 24) that it has never given money to Planned Parenthood, but that a few independent local chapters do. It released the statement after a number of blogs and social media posts asserted that “The United Way” funds Planned Parenthood, a national non-profit organization that provides reproductive health, maternal and child health services.
Michael Williamson, president and chief executive of United Way of Southeast Louisiana, said separately that his chapter has “never provided funding to Planned Parenthood, and we do not now.” The 1,200 United Ways in the United States are each independent entities, with their own volunteer boards that determine funding needs, Williamson said. He said local United Ways do not take directions on funding from United Way Worldwide, the sole purpose of which is to assist local entities with marketing and training.
The worldwide organization said less than 6 percent of local United Ways provide support to Planned Parenthood—”less than 1/10th of 1 percent of total United Way revenue.” Its statement continued: “No United Way funds are currently used, or have ever been used to support abortion services.”