Q: What is the Mary
Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF)?
A: It is a nonprofit foundation that receives donations from members of
the general public, the Mary Kay independent sales force and employees.
The MKACF funds research grants to help
find a cure for cancers affecting women.
It also funds women’s shelters and
offers financial support to organizations that raise awareness
and address the problem of violence against women.
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Q: When was the MKACF
created?
A: It was created in 1996.
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Q: What is the focus
of the MKACF?
A: The focus of the Foundation is to support the issues that were closest
to Mary Kay’s heart, namely:
To find a cure for cancers affecting women
(e.g., breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian) by awarding medical
research grants.
To stop the incidence of violence against
women by offering financial support to women’s shelters and
other projects and grass roots organizations that are committed
to this issue.
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Q: Why is violence
against women important to the Foundation?
A: Our mission is to enrich women’s lives around the world. One
woman in three will be a victim of abuse during her lifetime. In the
U.S., a woman is assaulted every 15 seconds, resulting in thousands of
women and children fleeing their homes and fearing for their lives.
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Q: To whom are cancer
research grants made?
A: Grants are awarded to accredited medical schools and schools of public
health located around the country. These proposals submitted to the MKACF
go through a rigid review process by our Research Review Committee.
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Q: What types of grants
are made in the area of violence against women?
A: The MKACF funds programs committed to ending domestic violence. One
of the first grants was awarded to the Association of Junior Leagues
International to help underwrite a domestic violence media kit complete
with television public service announcements.
In 2001, the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation
and Mary Kay Inc. underwrote a documentary on survivors of domestic
violence who are creating healthy, stable lives for themselves.
The title of the documentary is “Breaking the Silence: Journeys
of Hope.” To obtain a copy, click
here. A second documentary, “Breaking the Silence: Children’s
Stories,” also underwritten by the MKACF, premiered in October 2005.
In 2006 and 2007, 150 grants of $20,000 each were
made each year to selected women’s shelters (designated as nonexempt
by the IRS) around the United States.
In 2006, the Foundation contributed $212,800 to the Self-Reliance Foundation for the ¡No Más Silencio! campaign. Partnering with the Hispanic Communications Network the goal of this campaign was to increase awareness of and help prevent domestic violence, specifically in the Hispanic community nationwide.
In 2007, the MKACF granted the Safety Net Program of the National Network to End Domestic Violence $200,000 for the production and distribution of the training CD, "Survivors Technology: An Interactive Safety Planning Tool." The Safety Net Program raises awareness of safety issues concerning the use of technology such as cell phones, e-mail and the Internet.
Also in 2007, the Foundation awarded $200,000 to the National Domestic Hotline for their Love Is Respect program. Part of the Called to Make a Difference campaign, Love Is Respect works to raise awareness and champion zero tolerance of dating violence among teens.
Since 2003 the Foundation has given more that $1.1 million to the National Network to End Domestic Violence for both their Safety Net Program and their Direct Assistance Program.
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Q: Who serves on the
Research Review Committee?
A: The Research Review Committee is comprised of prominent doctors and
Ph.D.s who graciously volunteer their time to help the MKACF select deserving
scientists (or recipients).
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Q: Will we be informed
of the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation grant recipients?
A: Yes, we will publish a listing of grant recipients and their research
subjects each year. There will be a similar list of violence against
women projects published each year. We want people to know how their
generous donations are being put to work.
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Q: If I have a question
about the MKACF, whom should I call?
A: You may call the toll-free Foundation office line at 1-877-MKCARES
(1-877-652-2737).
Or you may call Nancy Thomason, executive
project specialist, who worked closely with Mary Kay for 20 years,
at 972-687-4515.
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Q: If someone wishes
to donate money to the MKACF, to what address should the envelope
be sent?
A: Donations may be sent to MKACF, P.O. Box 799044, Dallas, TX 75379-9044.
Online donations using a credit card are available here.
Checks or money orders should be made out
to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation.
You may designate the specific mission — cancer
or violence against women — which you wish to support.
The Foundation is required to honor the
wishes of the donor. Undesignated funds are used for both stated
causes, violence and cancer research, at the direction of the board.
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Q: Will funds donated
for each mission be used solely for that issue?
A: A person donating funds to the Foundation may designate the mission
for which he or she wishes to see the money used. All funds donated for
cancer will be spent for cancer research. All funds donated for the prevention
of violence against women will be used for that mission. The Foundation
will follow the wishes of the donor. That is our responsibility to the
donor.
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Q: How do I send a
donation in memory of or in honor of someone?
A: Please print clearly or type a note along with your donation indicating
the person for whom the donation is made. Please include the name and
address of the individual or family to whom you would like an acknowledgment
sent. Please also include your own name and address so we can thank you
for your donation.
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Q: Is there a minimum
or maximum amount of money which I can donate to the Foundation?
A: No, we will gladly accept any donation.
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Q: Can I hold my own
fundraiser to help raise money for the MKACF?
A: Yes, you may obtain more information about holding a third-party fundraiser
from the MKACF office by calling 1-877-MKCARES, or click
here to print the forms.
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Q: How many dollars
are raised for the MKACF during the annual Mary Kay Seminar held
in Dallas each year?
A: Seminar 2007 raised more than $247,000.
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Q: Are there any products
for sale that support the Foundation?
A: There are several items featured in the Gifts That Give
Back section that benefit the Foundation: the Pin of Hope; the popular
cookbook, And Stirred With Love; Living a Rich Life,
a book on personal and financial balance; and “With Hope and Courage,” a
DVD for women with cancer and their families. In addition, there
are several brochures and other support materials available that deal
with women’s cancers and domestic violence. All items are available to
Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants and/or Independent Sales Directors
and can be ordered through a member of our independent sales force.
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Q: How much money
was donated through the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation in
2007?
A: More than $4.9 million was donated to the causes of funding research for cancers affecting women and preventing domestic violence against women. Those donations included over $1.5 million for cancer research and over $3.4 million for domestic violence prevention programs.
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Q: Will I receive
a receipt for my donation?
A: You will automatically receive a receipt for donations made
by credit card, check or money order to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable
Foundation.
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Q: If I participate
in a fundraising event, how can I ensure that I receive a tax
receipt?
A: For security reasons and easier handling, the cash at most
fundraisers is consolidated into one check or money order to be
sent to the Foundation. Should you desire a tax receipt, we suggest
you write a personal check made out to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable
Foundation. Only checks made directly to the Foundation, and not
the event, are tax deductible.
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Q: How much money does the Foundation receive for cell phone and cartridge returns?
A: The MKACF receives $2 for each cell phone. The amount received for ink cartridges varies according to brand and market price.
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Q: Should I return my charger and other accessories with my cell phone?
A: No. Just return your cell phone.
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Q: How do I order more phone bags?
A: Call toll free 1-888-490-7635 or e-mail bags@accessrecycling.com. Please leave your full name, mailing address and callback number for questions.
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