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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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Mannatech (NASDAQ-MTEX) has provided a mass donation to benefit Houston residents affected by Hurricane Ike on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. The donation included $10,000 of food and water, in addition to nearly 6,000 boxes of Mannatech nutritional supplement products.

Mannatech CEO Wayne Badovinus and other executives were on hand Friday morning as the company loaded a truck filled with 5,400 pounds of relief supplies for victims. The company worked with State Representative Senfronia Thompson to identify relief stations most in need. Five Mannatech staff members traveled to northeast Houston to help distribute the supplies.

“Having been in business in Texas for the past 15 years we believe it’s important to help fellow Texans in need,” said Wayne Badovinus, president and CEO of Mannatech. “Helping others is a way of life for our employees and represents the heart of our company.”

Mannatech staff selected two products, MannaBears™ supplements and MannaBars™ nutrition bars, to send the children and adults affected by the hurricane.

This is not the first time that Mannatech has been charitable. They have sponsored athletes in the Olympics and have remained active in the communities they represent. While the company (which is also based in Texas) has had a bit of a rough year, it’s great to see that in times of need, Mannatech finds the time to give back.

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In some more Tomboy Tools news, the company which designs tools especially for woman, has just launched its newest philanthropic campaing. The new campaign, Hammer out Breast Cancer, is an extension of their summer project where they donated proceeds from sales of their new pink hammer to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

This time, a portion of sales from the new Pink Tomboy Traveler will go towards the foundation which donates money to support research to find a cure for breast cancer. $7.00 Dollars from each Pink Traveler sold will go to the foundation.

The Pink Tomboy Traveler contains eerything you need for small home renovations. Included in the sturdy pink canvas bag is a screwdriver, hammer, penicl, tape measure, pliers, utility knife, leveler, mini hacksaw, safety glasses, and rubber gloves.

The promotion began last week, September 1 and will continue for the next month, until October 1st- so there are still a few weeks left to get this great product and support an amazing cause.

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