Accepting the check for the Foundation from Oakland A's Coach Tony DeFrancesco (center) are (from left to right) Independent Beauty Consultants Gina Antonini and Kendall Faiaipau, Independent Sales Director Connie Trageser, Independent National Sales Director Bea Millslagle, and Independent Senior Sales Director Arlene Richards.

Independent Sales Director Connie Trageser and Bay-area Beauty Consultants and Sales Directors hit a fundraising home run holding “A Pink Day with the Oakland A's”. Pink reigned at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., during the May 3, 2008, contest against, quite coincidentally, the Texas Rangers.

Cheering enthusiasts, sporting pink T-shirts imprinted with the Foundation and Oakland A's logos, kept their spirits high even as the Rangers prevailed. Ticket sales, an auction of Oakland A's memorabilia and a donation from the ballclub brought in $6,000 for the Foundation.

"I can't thank the Mary Kay staff, Beauty Consultants and Sales Directors enough for doing more than their share to help with this monumental task!" exclaims Connie. "The A's were fabulous to work with too. They're a first-class organization with big hearts."

Top ticket seller Independent Beauty Consultant Kendall Faiaipau, motivated by a dear friend's battle with breast cancer, determinedly sold 50 tickets. Nearly reaching that same goal, Independent Beauty Consultant Gina Antonini sold 42 tickets.

The event was especially poignant for Connie as one of her team members recently lost her husband to cancer. The A's decided to honor his family with an autographed baseball given for sales of more than 250 game tickets.

"The A's are honored to have been a part of raising funds for such a fantastic charitable foundation," says Jim Leahey, vice president of sales and marketing for the Oakland A's.

"Mary Kay independent sales force members are great people to work with.  In addition to your charitable spirit, enthusiasm, organization and creativity, the Mary Kay fans stood out in two unique ways: I saw pink in your section until the very final pitch — you're true believers, and, I have not heard a reaction so sincere and enthusiastic from any other group when their video presentation was shown. What great spirit!”

"Many personal thanks for the effort you put into the event," adds Jim. "We hope that we can continue to build our relationship."

"I'm grateful to Mary Kay Ash for entrusting her legacy to us," reflects Connie. "In true Mary Kay spirit, we had a lot of fun, and we're planning on making this an annual event."