In response to Hurricane Katrina in fall 2005, Avon and the Avon Foundation have made cash and in kind donations and created fundraising programs to support relief efforts. Cash donations of $770,000 to support three needs: immediate and ongoing local relief efforts, grants to displaced domestic violence organizations and to support treatment of breast cancer patients transferred from the affected areas.
In September, Avon executive Garth Warner was a special guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and presented a $100,000 check to Ellen's Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund on behalf of the Avon Foundation.
Avon Products, Inc. also donated more than 20 truckloads of personal care products and clothing to organizations such as Feed the Children and launched two fundraising programs: the Heart of America Key Chain, with 100% of net proceeds donated to hurricane relief efforts, and a “product bundle” program in which Avon Sales Representatives sold products that were donated to victims while proceeds went to the relief efforts. In addition, Avon associates “adopted” families of Avon Sales Representatives affected by Hurricane Katrina by purchasing apparel, gifts and other items specified as needed by the families, and the gifts were packed and shipped at Avon’s expense in time for the holiday season.
The grants made from the Avon Foundation for Hurricane Katrina relief include the following:
- American Red Cross (Washington, DC) - $100,000 to support the ongoing
- Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts, as committed in a special appearance and announcement on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
- Foundation for the Mid South (Jackson, MS) - $500,000 to provide critical support to nonprofit organizations impacted by Hurricane Katrina, with Avon Foundation funds focused on addressing housing/shelter for displaced women and their families.
- Louisiana Domestic Violence Coalition and Mississippi Domestic Violence Coalition (Baton Rouge, LA and Jackson, MS) - $50,000 each to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, including: relocation of domestic violence victims from damaged shelters; purchasing goods to fulfill basic needs of victims; and assistance on expenses such as transportation and medication.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (national program based in Austin, TX) - $50,000 divided between a program to extend outreach and assistance to non-English speaking domestic violence victims, and a special emergency program to assist family violence service providers and victims displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
- Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University (Atlanta, GA) - $20,000 to support access to care for breast cancer patients displaced to Atlanta from the Gulf Coast area hospitals affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Click here for August 2005 release
