by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Tue August 22, 2017
Organizations continue to pull their events from President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort after his defense last week of white nationalist, KKK, and neo-Nazi groups.
At least 20 organizations have canceled previously scheduled gatherings at the property, The Huffington Post reported.
Groups ranging from the Cleveland Clinic to the American Cancer Society began announcing last week that they would find somewhere else to hold their functions. The announcements came on the heels of Trump blaming "both sides" for the violence in Charlottesville caused by a white supremacist gathering that left one person dead.
During the course of the weekend, still more organizations decided to steer clear of the Trump resort. The latest organizations to cancel bookings include The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society; MorseLife and The Kravis Center.
"Given the current environment surrounding Mar-a-Lago, we have made the decision to move our annual dinner dance," the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach said Saturday on its Facebook page. The announcement received applause and overwhelmingly positive comments from followers who thanked the organization for the decision.
The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society issued a similar statement on its website, pointing out that the organization was moving its 2018 Tropical Safari Gala because "it is important that we not allow distractions to deter us from our mission and culture."
Mar-a-Lago has historically been the site of numerous fundraisers and other charity events thanks in large part to its 20,000-square-foot ballroom and manicured lawns, according to The New York Times.
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The Trump Organization, a conglomerate of Mr. Trump's businesses, has not commented on the exodus, according to The New York Times.
Additional high-profile organizations to turn their backs on Mar-a-Lago and cancel events include the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Susan G. Komen.
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