Look To The Stars News: Avon Foundation

Fergie Headlines Avon Foundation For Women Gala

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The ninth annual Avon Foundation for Women Gala on October 27 honored exceptional women and men for their efforts fighting breast cancer and domestic violence at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The event was hosted by award winning actress and Avon Honorary Chair Reese Witherspoon with a special musical performance by Fergie.

More than 550 guests attended the event and raised $2 million to benefit breast cancer research and access to care and domestic violence education, prevention and victim support programs.

Along with Reese Witherspoon and Andrea Jung, presenters included Patrick Dempsey, Courteney Cox, Lauren Conrad and Suze Orman.

Reese Witherspoon Invites You To Charity Gala

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Actress Reese Witherspoon invites you to the annual Avon Foundation for Women Gala in October.

Witherspoon is a global ambassador for cosmetics brand Avon and an honorary chairperson of the Avon Foundation for Women.

Over 500 guests will attend the ninth annual Avon Foundation for Women Awards Gala to celebrate Champions who Change Women’s Lives. The star studded evening will recognize outstanding leaders who are accelerating progress in efforts to end breast cancer and domestic violence.

This year’s Honorees will be announced at the dinner, which will be hosted by Andrea Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Avon Products, Inc. and Carol Kurzig, President, Avon Foundation for Women. Tables may be purchased for $50,000; $30,000; $20,000 and individual tickets are $5,000 and $2,000.

The Avon Foundation is a leader and agent for change, raising significant funds and awareness to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer and to help end the cycle of domestic violence. This annual event has raised over $15 million since its inception in 2001.

By the end of 2008, Avon philanthropy has raised and awarded more than $660 million in over 50 countries in support of the mission to improve the lives of women globally. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992 and supports access to care for all, regardless of ability to pay, and research to eradicate breast cancer. Funds are awarded for breast cancer education and awareness; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and medical research. The Speak Out Against Domestic Violence initiative was launched in 2004, focusing on awareness, education, direct service programs and prevention, with a special emphasis on children affected by domestic violence.

The event takes place at Cipriani 42nd Street, New York City, on October 27. For more information and tickets, click here.

Reese Witherspoon Launches New Women's Empowerment Necklace

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Reese Witherspoon has launched a new campaign to end violence against women.

The 32-year-old has launched the new Women’s Empowerment necklace, designed to save and improve women’s lives worldwide, at an event in Washington DC on Tuesday, March 3.

“Nearly a billion women worldwide are affected by violence,” she said during the launch. “The Empowerment Necklace is an easy way for all women to take action and demonstrate solidarity to reduce the worldwide epidemic of violence against women.”

Witherspoon is a global ambassador for cosmetics brand Avon and an honorary chairperson of the Avon Foundation for Women. The necklace follows the release of the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet that was released last year to raise awareness of the issue. According to the Foundation’s website, “the Women’s Empowerment initiative was created to raise awareness about the need to speak out against the violence that affects women around the globe. In support of this mission, proceeds from the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet launched the Avon Empowerment Fund, which contributed $1 million to the UNIFEM-managed UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and funded local [”UNIFEM":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/222-unifem] projects in 13 countries. In addition, more than 30 Avon countries around the world launched partnerships with local domestic violence agencies during 2008, and Avon global grantmaking for the cause exceeded $7.4 million."

“I think we all know people who have been touched by domestic violence in our lives, whether it’s your mother, your sister or your girlfriend,” Witherspoon told ABC News. “I personally know many people who have dealt with the situation, and I think it’s important to stress that there are ways to talk about it.”

The new necklace costs $5 and is available here.

Patrick Dempsey To Race For Breast Cancer

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor and racing fan/driver Patrick Dempsey has partnered with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer for the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Dempsey will join Joe Foster and Charles Espenlaub in driving the number 40 Mazda RX8 with pink trim in the race on January 24-25.

“Real men can wear pink,” said Dempsey. “All of us at Dempsey Racing are proud to partner with the [”Avon Foundation":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/684-avon-foundation] in its fight against breast cancer. By wearing pink on our suits and on our cars, we hope to raise awareness for this important cause and for an extraordinary series of events: the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

“I am so proud to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which raises funds that directly save lives. To help inspire fundraising for this important cause, there will be a special contest for top fundraisers – you can visit the web site avonwalk.org for details on how you can win a chance to meet me and my racing team.”

This will be the 47th time the 24-hour endurance race has been held at Daytona. It will be the second time that Dempsey – co-owner of Hyper Sport Racing – has competed.

“While two very different types of endurance events, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and sports car racing have the common tie of the mental and physical stamina required to achieve success,” Dempsey said. “With that juxtaposition in mind, a special contest for top fundraisers of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer will be unveiled during The Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 24-25, 2009.”

Avon Foundation Honors Charity Leaders

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

The Hope Honors – the star-studded eighth annual Avon Foundation Awards Celebration – honored leaders in the causes of breast cancer and domestic violence in New York City earlier this week.

Hosting this year’s event were Andrea Jung, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Avon Products, Inc. and Carol Kurzig, Executive Director, Avon Foundation. Award presenters and special guests included award-winning actor Patrick Dempsey; celebrity makeup artist and Avon Global Creative Color Director Jillian Dempsey; actress and designer Lauren Conrad; personal finance expert Suze Orman; designer Cynthia Rowley; and renowned breast cancer surgeon and best-selling author Dr. Susan Love.

The celebratory event culminated with a special musical performance by 19 Recordings/Jive Recording Artist Jordin Sparks.

“Each year we come together to recognize and celebrate those who share our commitment to ending breast cancer and domestic violence, and to bring new voices and resources to advance these important causes,” stated Andrea Jung. “This is always a special night for the Avon Foundation, and it is an evening when my pride as the leader of Avon knows no bounds.”

Since its inception in 2001, the Avon Foundation Awards Celebration has raised $15.6 million, including $1.6 million this year.

The Avon Foundation, a public charity, is a global leader and change agent in the causes of breast cancer and domestic violence, and Avon is the largest corporate supporter of the breast cancer cause. These issues continue to be of grave concern: there is a new diagnosis of breast cancer in the U.S. every three minutes, and one in three women worldwide is a victim of violence, while some 10 million children witness domestic violence in the U.S. each year. Since 1992, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has supported access to care and finding a cure in more than 50 countries. Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence was launched in 2004 and has now rolled out in a dozen countries. In addition, the Avon Foundation supports emergency and disaster relief. Total funds raised and awarded worldwide for all these causes exceed $660 million.

Army Of Women Fight Breast Cancer

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

A groundbreaking initiative that will partner women with breast cancer researchers to find the key to what causes breast cancer and take science beyond a cure to prevention has been launched.

The Love/Avon Army of Women – whose celebrity ambassadors include Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Daisy Fuentes, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Danica Patrick, Suze Orman, and Olympic figure skating champions Emily and Sarah Hughes – has been set up by the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation to serve as an online resource providing researchers much-needed and unprecedented access to healthy women — a critical component to prevention research. At the same time, the program offers women the opportunity to play a significant, direct role in helping eradicate breast cancer.

Virtually all women not currently undergoing breast cancer treatment, including healthy women, breast cancer survivors, and women who are high risk for developing breast cancer, can enroll in the Love/Avon Army of Women online at www.armyofwomen.org, providing basic information and indicating their willingness to consider participation in future research studies.

Scientists apply to the Army of Women for the opportunity to recruit volunteers for their research. Their studies undergo a thorough scientific, safety, and ethical review. An email about approved research is sent to the Army of Women “members” with information about the study, and those who are interested in participating and meet the criteria are instructed on how to contact the researcher or a designated Army of Women research center. Through this careful but speedy process, the Army of Women provides researchers access to these volunteers. That process may involve completing a questionnaire, providing blood or saliva samples, or other relatively simple levels of participation on the part of the volunteer. All information is kept strictly confidential, and the women participate on a purely voluntary basis.

“Women have repeatedly demonstrated through fundraising and advocacy their personal dedication to ending this disease,” says Dr. Susan Love, who has been a leader in the breast cancer movement for more than 30 years. “This new initiative gives women the opportunity to take the next steps and be part of the research itself.” Dr. Love, a renowned breast cancer surgeon and respected expert in the field, is also the author of the best-selling Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book and president of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

“Avon is itself an ‘army of women,’ and we are committed to being the company and the foundation for women,” explained Andrea Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avon Products, Inc. who joined Dr. Love for the launch. “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.”

More information can be found at www.armyofwomen.org.

Witherspoon Speaks Out In Brazil

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Actress Reese Witherspoon visited the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo last week to show her dedication to ending violence against women.

The Legally Blonde star is the ambassador for Speak Out Against Domestic Violence, a joint campaign launched in 2004 by UNIFEM and Avon.

In March of this year she launched the campaign’s Women’s Empowerment Bracelet, an emblem in the fight against domestic violence, created to raise awareness about the need to speak out. Proceeds from the sale of the bracelets go to the Avon Empowerment Fund, which provides funding for UNIFEM and its UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

Witherspoon’s appearance in the South American country on Thursday was in celebration of the bracelet’s success since its launch: 1.5 million have been sold so far. The Avon Foundation matched the first $500,000 in sales to make a total of $1 million given to helping people speak out and stop the abuse.

Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo, the actress said, “There isn’t a woman in the world that doesn’t have a friend or a partner who’s actually experiencing some sort of violence against them, so I think although domestic violence hasn’t happened to me personally, I certainly know women who are dealing with this struggle every day. Domestic violence affects women who are famous, who are not famous, women who have money, women who have no money. This is an issue that crosses all boundaries and it certainly affects everyone.”

To purchase a bracelet and show your support, visit the Avon Foundation online.

Reese Witherspoon Joins Women’s Health Crusade

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:37:18 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress Reese Witherspoon is Avon’s first ever Global Ambassador, serving as the Honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation and focusing on raising awareness about breast cancer, domestic violence and emergency relief initiatives.

“We are thrilled to welcome Reese as our Global Ambassador and believe she will give a strong voice to the company’s commitment to empowering women,” says CEO Andrea Jung. “Reese is a perfect fit. She clearly embodies the drive, the commitment and entrepreneurial spirit that is at the heart of Avon.”

The Avon Foundation is a public charity founded in 1955 whose mission is simply “to improve the lives of women and their families.” Fundraising programs for breast cancer include the US Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series, the global Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer series and Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which support access to treatment for the medically underserved in 50 countries through screening and diagnosis, support services, education and scientific research.

Avon’s Need for Speed Relay Against Domestic Violence, and Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence programs focus on awareness, education and prevention programs. Among their initiatives was an award-winning Mexican public service announcement entitled “Golpe” (“Punch”). It showed a beautiful woman with a black eye and headline “At Avon, we don’t want you to cover it up.”

The Avon Foundation also supports emergency and disaster relief through other special events. Last year, Avon’s annual awards celebration alone raised $2 million, and total funds raised by Avon’s philanthropy had reached $500 million.

“I am very excited to be partnering with Avon. It is a company that is known the world over as a crusader for women’s causes,” said Ms. Witherspoon. “I am truly impressed by how Avon has been able to effect real change in communities. I am proud to be joining in the great philanthropic work that is already underway.”

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