Here is just a snapshot of the lives we’re changing in the countries and communities where we live and work.
Canada
Since 2004, Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd. and the Canadian Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation have awarded more than $100,000 to women’s shelters and community outreach programs across Canada through the Shelter Grant Program.
The Canadian MKACF is proud to support women living with cancer through financial support of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA) sponsored Look Good Feel Better® program. In 2007, the Foundation donated $40,000 to the Look Good Feel Better® program. This program is dedicated to assisting Canadian women living with cancer learn special cosmetic techniques to help manage the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. More than 60% of Look Good Feel Better® volunteers are Mary Kay® independent sales force members who conduct cosmetic workshops in hospitals and cancer treatment centres nationwide. In addition to the financial support of the MKACF, the Company also provides more than $200,000 worth of product annually for the patient kits provided as part of the workshops.
United States
Since 2000, Mary Kay Inc. and the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation have awarded more than $11 million to domestic violence prevention programs and to women’s shelters across the country. In the last two years, the Foundation distributed 300 grants totaling $6 million to women’s shelters in all 50 states.
Since 1997, the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation –with support from Mary Kay Inc. –has funded nearly $6 million toward research grants to fight cancers affecting women.
Employees from the Mary Kay Inc. manufacturing group in Dallas volunteer each year to give a warm welcome and show their support for U.S. soldiers returning home from the Middle East at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Having made a significant financial contribution, Mary Kay Inc. is a Gold Member of the Flagship Corporate Alliance for construction of the Dallas Center for Performing Arts. The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts will be a new multi-venue center for music, opera, theater and dance in downtown Dallas and is expected to open in October 2009.
Mary Kay Inc. has made extensive financial contributions toward Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief. The Company contributed more than $5 million in cash donations, in-kind and product donations that include more than $1 million to aid general Hurricane Katrina relief and long-term rebuilding efforts.
China
Mary Kay China began its involvement with this program in 2002 through the All China Women’s Federation. It encourages Mary Kay independent sales force members to assist their local schools. For example, Independent Beauty Consultants and employees have assisted in Kunming Female Middle School in Yunnan Province. In 2003, Mary Kay China and its sales force donated to the Spring Bud Project in 10 provinces, providing financial assistance to more than 500 female students. This generosity allowed the girls to return to school. Mary Kay China and the independent sales force currently support 850 school girls attending 17 schools throughout China.
Russia
Operation Smile is one of the most well-known and beloved projects of Mary Kay Russia. Together, the Company and the independent sales force raise funds to support Operation Smile, a non-profit organization that is known for lending highly qualified surgical assistance to children who are born with facial deformities. To date, more than 2,000 Russian children have received medical services free of charge in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Kazan and Vladimir. In addition, Mary Kay Russia cooperates with the Cosmetics, Surgery and Cosmetology Institute of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and contributes funds for free operations for children with facial injuries.
In addition to Operation Smile, Mary Kay Russia employees also take time to visit orphanages each year and hand out gifts to the children. They also present gifts of Mary Kay® product to those who care for the children at the orphanages.
Kazakhstan
Mary Kay Kazakhstan has been passionate about children’s charities during the last six years, and the office was recently recognized by the First Lady of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sara Nazarbayeva. She gave the office a silver figurine called “The Symbol of Motherhood.” Kazakhstan employees received the figurine during one of their visits to a children’s home.
Mary Kay Kazakhstan also included Independent Beauty Consultants in a recent project to raise money for children with infantile cerebral paralysis. The proceeds will go to a children’s rehabilitation center to buy much-needed unique medical equipment.
Germany
Mary Kay Germany is committed to raising funds and awareness to help find a cure for cancer. The staff in Germany organized an effort to raise $4,000 for the German Cancer Foundation at Career Conference 2007 and distributed information packets to cancer patients at more than 50 clinics around the country. In 2006 the Company donated $21,000 to the organization and presented the cheque to the president of the German Cancer Foundation at a Mary Kay Company event.
