Mary Kay Inc. Makes $1 Million Donation to TMKF

Date:  8/17/2010

At Seminar 2010 Mary Kay Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Holl presented to The Mary Kay Foundation Board Vice President Karen Rogers a check for $1 million from Mary Kay Inc. to support its two missions of eliminating cancers that affect women and ending the epidemic of violence against women. Mary Kay Inc. is the largest supporter of The Foundation, having donated over $16 million since 2003. Because of the Company’s administrative support, more than 97% of every dollar donated to the Foundation goes back into its two causes. In addition to this donation, in the US, from May 1 through September 15, 2010, $1 will be donated from each sale of limited-edition (available while supplies last) Beauty that Counts® Mary Kay® Creme Lipstick in Compassion, Inspiration and Confidence. As part of this effort, in the United States, Mary Kay Inc. is proud to support The Foundation in its efforts to end domestic violence. To learn more visit www.marykay.com.

FedEx Office Donates to the Foundation

Date:  7/14/2010

Through the Mary Kay/ FedEx Office Commercial Account Discount Program, introduced in 2005, FedEx Office discounts services and makes a generous annual donation to the Foundation based on net revenues from sales force and employee purchases. These services include copying, printing and more. Rob Bimson, Corporate Account Executive with FedEx Office, recently presented a check for $11,839.25 to The Mary Kay Foundation as a result of this ongoing partnership.

“The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation has a long-standing commitment to eliminating cancers and ending the domestic violence epidemic affecting so many women. I could not be more pleased that FedEx Office is able to contribute to such a worthwhile organization dedicated to quality and service – two things we also pride ourselves on,” says Rob. “We value our partnership with the Foundation and are honored to help make a difference in the lives of women everywhere.”

Contributions to CancerCare

Date:  4/7/2010

For the ninth consecutive year, The Mary Kay Foundation has made a 2010 donation to the Touching Hearts Program of CancerCare®. CancerCare® is a national, nonprofit organization that provides free professional help to people with all cancers through counseling, education, information, referral and direct financial assistance. The Touching Hearts Program provides much-need financial assistance to women who have been diagnosed with cancer and are facing significant practical, financial and emotional challenges. Among the clients served by The Touching Heart s Program is Brigitte, a married mother of five and part-time violin teacher. Brigitte was diagnosed with Stage IV rectal cancer and has received a transportation grant to complete her treatment, thanks to the Touching Hearts Program. For more information about CancerCare® and the Touching Hearts Program click here.

Donation to NNEDV

Date:  2/14/2010

In February, 2010, The Mary Kay Foundation made a $300,000 donation to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). The NNEDV serves as the leading voice for domestic violence issues in Congress, the Executive Branch and the Federal Courts.

These funds will help with their core programs, with $200,000 being earmarked for the Amy's Courage Fund, a direct assistance fund created to alleviate the financial constraints that prevent victims of domestic violence from leaving their abusers.

The Foundation is also proud to sponsor the publication, 2009 Domestic Violence Counts: A 24-Hour Census of Domestic Violence Services, which will be given to every member of the U.S. Congress, over 2,000 shelters, and many state legislators and governors. For more information on the NNEDV and the Amy's Courage Fund, visit http://www.nnedv.org.

Shining the Light on Domestic Violence

Date:  10/14/2009

Every October, The Mary Kay Foundation observes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by awarding grants to deserving women’s shelters. These grants provide services such as counseling, transportation vehicles, emergency shelter, food, clothing and basic needs to domestic violence survivors and their children. On September 20, The Mary Kay Foundation’s annual $3 million shelter grant program was announced and featured on electronic billboards in Times Square New York and the Las Vegas Fashion Mall. The Reuters sign in Times Square is the world’s largest digital sign, with 11 screens totaling over 7,400 square feet. There are 1,500 companies with 231,000 employees in Times Square, and 30 million tourists visit Time Square annually. The Las Vegas Fashion Show mall attracts more than 14 million shoppers annually, with more than 2 million square feet of retail space. Located at the front of the mall, the signs are passed by 100,000 vehicles and 55,000 pedestrians per day.

Foundation Underwrites Survivors and Technology CD

Date:  5/14/2009

The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation and the National Network to End Domestic Violence debuted the first-of-its kind bilingual CD, Survivors and Technology/Sobreviventes y Technologia, designed to help domestic violence shelters, law enforcement and survivors safely plan around technology use, abuse and privacy. Topics covered in this CD range from different ways abusers use technology to stalk their victims to safety tips and strategies survivors can use to make technology work for them.

The newly-released Spanish-language version of this interactive CD addresses how technology can be used by abusers and how victims can use technology to protect themselves. CDs were distributed to domestic violence programs, rape crisis centers, victims advocate groups, prosecutors and attorneys general across the United States.

Developed by the Safety Net Team of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the CD was underwritten by the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation.

Cancer Research Breakthrough

Date:  3/15/2009

The March 15, 2009, issue of Genes & Development reported that a study funded in part by the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation produced a cancer research breakthrough. Led by Dr. Roger Greenberg, a 2008 cancer research grant recipient, researchers found that MERIT40, a previously unknown protein, works with other breast cancer genes to help repair damaged DNA.

Under normal conditions, the breast cancer gene BRCA1 orchestrates the repair of damaged DNA. When the BRCA1 gene is mutated and the repair pathway goes haywire, a woman's vulnerability to breast and ovarian cancers rises because the rate at which genes are altered increases.

Understanding how BRCA1 responds to damaged DNA can help scientists better fight cancer with chemotherapy. Further study of MERIT40 may also lead researchers to find other genes that increase vulnerability to breast cancer.

Foundation Funds Breast Surgery Training Program

Date:  8/20/2008

The American Society of Breast Disease has created the Mary Kay Ash Advanced Training Program in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. The Foundation has awarded a $225,000 grant to support this innovative program to train breast surgeons in the emerging field.

Oncoplastic surgery is a rapidly evolving subspecialty that combines the knowledge and surgical techniques of oncology as well as aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Gail Lebovic, one of the nation’s leading oncoplastic breast surgeons and Director of Women’s Health at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, will serve as the Program Director.

The American Society of Breast Disease, the nation’s only organization serving all healthcare professionals involved in breast cancer and disease diagnosis, treatment, and research, will administer the program.