New York, NY (March 4, 2008) – Today, Avon Products, Inc. and the Avon Foundation introduced the company’s first-ever global fundraising product, the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet, designed to save and improve women’s lives worldwide. The bracelet was unveiled by Avon Foundation Honorary Chair Reese Witherspoon at the second annual Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow, presented by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in partnership with Avon, at the United Nations in celebration of International Women’s Day.

“Avon has been committed to supporting women for more than 120 years, and as the company for women, we truly believe that empowering women will change the world,” said Andrea Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avon Products, Inc. “I am so proud today to announce a new, worldwide commitment to improving the lives of women with the launch of our first global fundraising product. The Women’s Empowerment Bracelet represents infinite possibilities for all women, and we hope that women around the world will join us in a show of solidarity by wearing it.”

“As honorary chair of the Avon Foundation, I’m very excited to introduce the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet,” said Reese Witherspoon. “Wearing this bracelet is a way to support efforts to save and improve women’s lives worldwide; every purchase will help empower women. This bracelet is a symbol of hope and unity that represents a future without limitations for all women, a cause I truly believe in.”

The bracelet 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 will launch a new endowment, the Avon Empowerment Fund, which will contribute to the UNIFEM-managed UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The first $500,000 from bracelet sales will be matched in 2008 by the Avon Foundation for a total donation of $1 million for new grants by the UN Trust Fund, representing the single-largest one-year corporate contribution to-date. Additional funds raised by the bracelet sales will be awarded as grants through the Avon Foundation Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program.

Avon and UNIFEM’s public-private partnership is driven by a shared commitment to advance women’s empowerment globally. The partnership will expand the work of the UN to strengthen efforts and build resources to end violence against women and enhance women’s economic security and rights. Avon’s contribution will bolster the UN Trust Fund’s focus on implementing laws and policies that reduce violence against women, with a special focus on increasing legal literacy and working with judicial, legal and law enforcement agencies and personnel, and other stakeholders, to increase the awareness, understanding and efficacy of these regulations.

The Avon Women’s Empowerment Bracelet will be available as of March 4 [priced at $3.00 in the U.S.] exclusively through the more than 5 million Avon Representatives worldwide, with 100% of net profits [$2.25 in the U.S.] donated to the Avon Empowerment Fund. The sleek periwinkle blue stretch cord bracelet features a silver-toned infinity symbol, a powerful statement representing a future with infinite opportunities for women. By purchasing and wearing this bracelet, women can take a public stance in improving the lives of women of all ages around the world.

About the Avon Foundation
The Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 with the mission to improve the lives of women, and currently it is focused on the issues of breast cancer and domestic violence. The Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program was launched in the US in 2004 and global expansion began shortly thereafter, with programs now in Central and South America and Europe. The Speak Out mission focuses on raising funds and awareness for domestic violence awareness, education and prevention programs while developing new community outreach and support for victims, and there is a special focus on supporting programs that assist children affected by domestic violence. Already more than $6 million has been awarded to over 250 organizations in the US.

About UNIFEM
UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women’s human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on reducing feminized poverty; ending violence against women; reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; and achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war. For more information, visit www.unifem.org.