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Photo: Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Image 2 of 9 The Susan Komen For The Cure international headquarters in the Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas The Susan Komen For The Cure international headquarters in the Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas Photo: AP Image 3 of 9 Komen Affiliate Leadership Conference in Dallas Komen Affiliate Leadership Conference in Dallas Photo: PR NEWSWIRE Image 4 of 9 Race for the Cure in Washington Race for the Cure in Washington Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 5 of 9 Image 6 of 9 Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his $100,000 donation Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his $100,000 donation Photo: Jeff Scheid / Associated Press Image 7 of 9 Nancy Brinker was awarded the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Nancy Brinker was awarded the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Photo: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg Image 8 of 9 Brinker formed the organization as a promise to her sister, who had died of breast cancer. Brinker formed the organization as a promise to her sister, who had died of breast cancer. Photo: Random House Image 9 of 9 Komen reverses, says it will keep funding Planned Parenthood 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity on Friday abandoned plans to eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood. The startling decision came after three days of virulent criticism that resounded across the Internet, jeopardizing Komen’s iconic image.

“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,” a Komen statement said.

As first reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday, Komen had adopted criteria excluding Planned Parenthood from future grants for breast-cancer screenings because it was under government investigation, citing a probe launched by a Florida congressman at the urging of anti-abortion groups.

Komen said it would change the criteria “to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political.”

“We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants,” the statement said.

Many of Komen’s affiliates across the country had openly rebelled against the decision to cut the funding, which totaled $680,000 in 2011. One affiliate, in Aspen, Colo., had announced Thursday that it would defy the new rules and continue grants to its local Planned Parenthood partner.

In addition, Komen was inundated with negative comments via emails, on Twitter and on its Facebook page. Many of the messages conveyed a determination to halt gifts to Komen — organizer of the popular Race for the Cure events —because of the decision.

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood was reporting an outpouring of support — donations large and small, triggered by the Komen decision, that it said surpassed $900,000.

Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, thanked those donors Friday and welcomed Komen’s change of heart.

“We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria,” Richards said. “What these past few days have demonstrated is the deep resolve all Americans share in the fight against cancer.”

Through the Komen grants, Planned Parenthood says its health centers provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammogram referrals over the past five years.

Komen, in its statement, said it was immediately starting an outreach to its affiliates and supporters to get the charity back on track.

“We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue,” Komen said. “We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics — anyone’s politics.”

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who had urged Komen to reconsider, issued this statement:

This is a huge win for women in communities across the country who will now be able to get the breast cancer screenings they count on through Planned Parenthood. And this is a major victory for the men and women across America who made their voices heard over the last few days to express their shock and dismay at Komen’s initial decision. Politics should never come between women and their health care, and I am very glad that Komen did the right thing and reversed their misguided and deeply damaging decision.

Our fight for women’s health does not end here. There are still many who will continue to put partisan politics ahead of women’s health, and we need to make sure that the grassroots support and energy that successfully came together to right this wrong stands ready to be there for women the next time we’re needed.

— Associated Press