OpTree

The Avon Foundation has partnered with the U.S. State Department to announce a public-private partnership help combat breast cancer around the world.

The two organizations will join forces to participate at the 2008 Breast Cancer Global Congress held next week in Washington D.C. The event will include participants from over 40 countries around the world who will come together at the Department of the State’s George C. Marshall Center in Washington D.C. Among the participants will be researchers, doctors, public health figures, and survivors of the disease who will discuss progress in research and treatments as well as new preventative measures.

The Avon Foundation was founded in 1955 and has become a leader in the fight against breast cancer. In 1992 the foundation created the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, which is dedicated solely to the fight against breast cancer. The foundation raises millions of dollars every year through various events including the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to support education, screening and research. Since 1992, they have raised almost 600 million dollars and have become the larges single contributor towards the fight against breast cancer.

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I received an email today from Jennifer Dempsey, Communications Coordinator at Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada about a recent story we did about XanGo and the Wish Foundation- We incorrectly stated that the company had partnered with the Make a Wish Foundation.

The correct story should have read that XanGo has partnered with the Childrens Wish Foundation of Canada.

We apologize for the mistake. And just as a reminder, the XanGo Wishmaker Parade 2008 is October 18 and 19 across Canada. You still have time to participate or donate to the cause.

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The Avon Foundation, an organization sponsored by the Avon cosmetics company, announced today that they have partnered with The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation to launch a new campaign, the Love/Avon Army of Women.  The revolutionary program will partner women with breast cancer and researchers to help unlock the mystery of what causes breast cancer.

The main goal of the program will be to move beyond just searching for a cure, but in finding clear answers to how women today can prevent the cancer from attacking. The Love/Avon Army of Women are encouraging women of all races, and ethnicities to take part in the research that will helps the millions of people affected by breast cancer each year.

The program will offer women the chance to participate in finding a cure simply by going to the Army of Women site and signing up to participate in future research studies. Women who are healthy, at risk, or currently undergoing treatment can all join in on the efforts to find answers. All information of participants is kept strictly confidential. Studies range from simple questionnaires to providing blood samples. The volunteer will determine how much they are willing to participate. All research and data collected will go through scientific, safety and ethical review to ensure their validity.

Dr. Susan Love, for whom the Susan Love Research Foundation is named, has been a leader in the breast cancer movement for over 3 decades, is excited about the partnership and its possibilities. “Women have repeatedly demonstrated through fundraising and advocacy their personal dedication to ending this disease. This new initiative gives women the opportunity to take the next steps and be part of the research itself.”

Andrea Jung, Chairman and CEO of Avon Products was on hand with Dr. Love for the launch, “Avon is itself an ‘army of women,’ and we are committed to being the company and the foundation for women. The Army of Women is a perfect marriage of our global leadership in the breast cancer cause and our grassroots access to women across the country.”

Several celebrities have joined in on the campaign as “celebrity ambassadors.” Among the celebs who have joined the army are, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Daisy Fuentes, Danica Patrick and Suze Orman.

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During these hard economic times, its great to see companies like Mary Kay helping those who need it most. Thanks to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, founded by the founder of the Mary Kay Cosmetic Company, domestic violence shelters around the country will receive grants to help them help others.

The foundation will award grants totaling $3 million dollars to shelters in all 50 states and Washington DC, The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The grants will be used to fund programs to curb domestic violence and to help keep shelter doors open during these tough economic times. Many of these shelters are seeing donation decline as people can not afford to be as charitable. Many shelters around the country are at risk of having to lay off staff or close down altogether.

“These grants from the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation come at a critical time for shelters across the country,” said Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “Thousands of women come into shelters every day for help and hope for themselves and their children. These grants will help shelters across the country provide needed support for women who have suffered domestic abuse.”

A part of the $3 million dollars in grants will come from the recently announced Country Music partnership with Mary Kay, “kiss domestic violence goodbye.” $600,000 thousand dollars will be awarded to 31 shelters in the names of various country artists who will auction off autographed lip print “Kiss Cards.” As we told you a month ago, country and rock singer Jewel is spearheading the partnership.

“The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation is a leader in supporting programs to help women survive violent relationships and re-establish their lives,” said Anne Crews, member of the MKACF Board of Directors and vice president of Mary Kay Inc. “Shelters need our help, especially now, because they are the front-line resource for battered women and their children, whose needs are great.”

Since the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation was created almost 12 years ago, they have awarded almost $18 million dollars to shelter and programs to help those who have been affected by domestic violence.

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