Pink Changing Lives - Part 2

2009-10-20T13:47:00Z

A few years ago, there was a museum exhibit in Texas called “It Ain’t Braggin’ If It’s True.” Will you please indulge me while I take a moment to brag about the Mary Kay independent sales force and their customers?

Last year, Mary Kay undertook its first cause marketing program called Beauty That Counts™. The funds raised were used to help women and children around the world. In Korea, the funds were used to build children’s libraries for orphans and disabled children. In Mexico, the funds were used to support programs dealing with domestic violence. In the U.S., a portion of the funds were used to underwrite a multi-media curriculum addressing the issue of teen dating violence. Some of the funds were also used to support a new and innovative program focused on children and the healing powers of nature. The program is building five outdoor “nature explore classrooms” at women’s shelters in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, California and Georgia. Those five classrooms are either opening or about to open this week in recognition of October and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The nature explore classrooms provide an outdoor environment to help children who have witnessed abuse in their home. Scientific studies show that children who are exposed to nature have a greater chance of dealing with difficult situations like witnessing abuse. Nothing like this existed before--these nature explore classrooms are the first to be built at women’s shelters. They will provide a quiet, safe and nurturing place for children to learn, play and heal. Can you imagine the difference this will make for the children and the women at these shelters?

It was the support of Beauty That Counts™ from the Mary Kay independent sales force and their customers that provided the support for the nature explore classrooms. I always say the people associated with Mary Kay, whether they be independent sales force members, employees or customers, are great people. This is just more proof of that. I know I’m bragging, but it’s true.

Thank you for all you do to help Mary Kay end domestic violence. Click here to learn more about the nature classrooms. http://www.marykay.com/content/company/pr_pressreleases_classroom.aspx

Pink Changing Lives - Part One

2009-10-02T14:43:00Z

Thank you Rhonda for giving me the opportunity to share information about the work that we are doing to end domestic violence.

Many of you know that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. But what you may not know is that ending violence against women is one of the primary initiatives supported by Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation. Around here, we call our efforts at doing well by doing good Pink Changing Lives^SM.

From the moment Mary Kay Ash founded our company in 1963, she always felt our primary mission was to enrich the lives of women. This is one of the reasons Mary Kay felt strongly that as an organization, we needed to support women’s shelters and those dealing with domestic abuse. I worked with Mary Kay for years and can tell you when she felt strongly about an issue, she acted on it. And as a Company, so do we. We feel strongly that violence against women must be stopped.

Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation have made a long-term commitment to support shelters and programs aimed at preventing, or at least, mitigating domestic violence. In total, we have donated more than $22 million to women’s shelters and programs addressing domestic violence. But it’s so much more than just writing a check. Along with the money we dedicate to this issue, we also look for unique opportunities that can truly make a difference to women dealing with abuse. Some of the few things we’ve done include:

Donating $20,000 to 150 women’s shelter in the United States in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. That is a total of $3 million per year to women’s shelters.
Lobbying Congress for the federal Violence Against Women Act and its renewal; lobbying State Legislatures to help educate teenagers about dating violence.
Providing grants to fund the salary of a special prosecutor for family violence crimes, in the District Attorney office.
Underwriting an interactive DVD and curriculum addressing teen dating violence.
Building outdoor nature environments at five women’s shelters this year to help children heal from the trauma suffered from being in an abusive home. Look for more details about this exciting project later this month.

As an organization, we don’t feel like we’ve gone above and beyond. We feel like we are simply doing our part. Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation will continue to work towards the goal of ending violence against women.

Anne Crews

Pink Changing Lives - Part 2

Pink Changing Lives - Part One