Mary Kay Cosmetics Works to End Teen Dating Violence

Many of you know that I'm a Mary Kay Consultant. I don't write about it because that's not the focus of Little Merry Sunshine, but I am very proud to work with a company who's mission statement is to enrich the lives of women.

One of the many ways Mary Kay works to enrich women's lives is through the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. The MKACF was created in in 1996, initially to fund research into eliminating cancers that affect women, but then later expanded to end the epidemic of violence against women. We take these missions very seriously. Since 1996, over $25 million has gone to support these two causes with over 98 cents of every dollar being used for charitable purposes (less than 2 cents of every dollar goes towards administrative costs). I'm very proud that among the $20,000 grant recipients in 2008 was the WINGS Program in Palatine, IL. Through this grant program alone, Mary Kay gave out 150 grants in 2008 worth $3 million to domestic violence shelters nationwide!

Additionally, Mary Kay does considerable work to prevent violence against women and teens with educational programs in the schools. The press release below describes this work.

Mary Kay Inc. and Break the Cycle Launch Initiative to Stop Teen Dating Violence

Lobbying for Good Effort Supports Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In support of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week and the company’s ongoing commitment to end domestic violence, Mary Kay Inc. is launching a national lobbying for good initiative. Together with non-profit partner Break the Cycle and its independent sales force, Mary Kay Inc. will encourage legislators across the United State to propose laws requiring healthy relationship education in schools. According to statistics provided by Break the Cycle, as many as one in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship; and, one in four eighth and ninth grade students reported being victims of dating violence in a recent report by the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

“The teen dating violence statistics are alarming and Mary Kay wants to do its part. Texas and Rhode Island are the only states that require domestic violence educational programs. We’d like to see more states pass laws about teaching healthy relationships and dating violence in middle and high schools. This will help put an end to domestic violence before it starts,” said Mary Kay Inc. Vice President of Government Relations Anne Crews.

Breaking the cycle of teen dating violence

As part of the effort, Mary Kay Inc. and Break the Cycle have launched an online petition at www.enddatingviolence.com to gather signatures and support for teen dating violence prevention and awareness programs in schools nationwide.

Beauty that Counts^TM

Mary Kay Inc. has partnered with Break the Cycle to sponsor a groundbreaking interactive DVD, Ending Violence. The Ending Violence DVD puts the organization’s teen dating violence prevention program into a multi-media format and will be available to schools this year.

The partnership was a result of Mary Kay’s first-ever global cause-related marketing campaign – Beauty that Counts^TM. The company donated just under $2 million from the 2008 worldwide sale of Mary Kay® Crème Lipstick in Apple Berry to causes that change the lives of women and children around the world. Break the Cycle was one of the beneficiaries.

Mary Kay has an ongoing commitment to lobbying for good. Beginning in the 1980s, Mary Kay Inc. lobbied state and national lawmakers advocating insurance coverage for mammograms and over the last 15 years lobbied for the federal Violence Against Women Act, its reauthorization and subsequent appropriations.

About Mary Kay Inc.

Mary Kay Inc., one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics, achieved another year of record results in 2007 with $2.4 billion in wholesale sales. Mary Kay® products are sold in more than 35 markets worldwide, and the company’s global independent sales force exceeds 1.8 million. To learn more about Mary Kay, log on to www.marykay.com or call 1 (800) MARY KAY (627.9529).

About Break the Cycle

Break the Cycle believes everyone has the right to safe and healthy relationships. As the leading voice for teens on the issue of dating violence, Break the Cycle advocates for policy and legislative changes that will better protect the rights and promote the health of teens nationwide. Engaging, educating and empowering youth through prevention and intervention programs, Break the Cycle helps young people identify and build healthy relationships. For more information, please visit www.breakthecycle.org or call 310.286.3383.

Press Release: February 2, 2009
Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
Kirsten Gappelberg, 214-263-5951
Office: 972-687-5332

Chris Brown OUT of the Kids' Choice Awards!

I wish I could tell you that Nickelodeon did the right thing and booted him out. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Much to my surprise, Chris Brown withdrew from the Kids' Choice Awards nominations himself. I have to say, I'm impressed with this move, although not his statement. I'm certain though that my scathing post yesterday helped Chris see the light.

According to the statement released from Chris Brown's rep on TMZ.com,

"Chris very much appreciates the support of his fans and the honor they have paid him in the way of nominations for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song.

Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the incident last month has shifted the focus from the music to whether he should be allowed to be among those nominated.

While Chris would like to speak to his fans directly about this and other issues, pending legal proceedings preclude his doing so at this time. Once the matter before him has been resolved, he intends to do so."

I don't like the statement because what I want him to say is "I appreciate the support of my fans and honor they have paid me in the way of nominations for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song. Unfortunately, as a role model to my fans, I have failed them and cannot accept their nominations. It is never acceptable to hit a woman and I have no excuse. There is nothing she did or could ever do to deserve the beating I gave her. No one should ever resort to violence for any reason. There are simply no excuses and I hope that my fans will learn from my mistakes."

What's worse is the statement from Nickelodeon to TMZ: "We are confirming that Chris Brown has decided to withdraw his nominations from the Kids' Choice Awards. We agree with and respect his decision, and are looking forward to presenting a great event for our audience." (emphasis mine).

Okay, if Nickelodeon agreed with Chris Brown's decision, why didn't they take a stand and boot him off the list of nominations? Do any adults work at Nickelodeon?

Does Nickelodeon Support Domestic Violence?

That title isn't meant to be funny. It's a question I'd really like to have answered. My gut says that Nickelodeon would say of course they don't condone violence against women (or anyone), but that doesn't really mesh with their decision to keep Chris Brown in contention to receive a Kids' Choice Award.

"Like all our KCA nominees, Chris Brown was nominated by kids several months ago based on his work as a performer, and the kids who vote will ultimately decide who wins in the category," Nickelodeon said in a statement sent to ABCNews.com.

19-year old Chris Brown, you'll recall is being charged with at least 1 felony for beating his 21-year old girlfriend Rihanna last month, although he's trying to plea to a misdameanor and not serve jail time.

I point out their ages because they are both role models to kids. Kids love them. Teenagers love their music. And of course, they are both still young adults themselves.

I'm all for being innocent until proven guilty, but this isn't about the court system. This is about what message is being sent to today's teenagers and pre-teens. Wrigley gum and the Milk campaign have decided they don't want to be associated with an alleged woman beater. Yet Nickelodeon, through their actions, is saying that his behavior is okay and they're standing by him. By doing that, they're sending the message to kids that it's okay to beat a woman to a bloody pulp.

It's bad enough that many of today's teens already think that Rihanna must be to blame for the beating she received from her boyfriend and that dating violence is normal. And this is at a time when 1 in 10 teens suffer violence in their dating relationships.

Don't we as adults owe it to this generation of teens and pre-teens to condemn domestic violence, let them know that violence is never okay, they deserve better, they must report it when it happens, and that they should not go back to the relationship?

Nickelodeon could use their Kids' Choice Awards as an opportunity to run anti-violence PSAs and educate kids about abuse. But it all starts with removing Chris Brown from contention for an award. It's too bad the powers that be at Nick are afraid to be adults.

Update 9:53pm: Campbell Brown of CNN has just weighed in on this issue and I'd like to think that she formed her opinion after reading Little Merry Sunshine, but I'm sure that's not true. But she does share my opinion. Watch for yourself.