Avon, Foundation Commit $1.75 Million to Help End Violence Against Women

March 5, 2009 — Avon and the Avon Foundation for Women have announced a $1.75 million pledge to help eradicate violence against women and ensure justice for all women worldwide.

The commitment includes a $1.5 million grant from the foundation to establish the Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School. The center, to be launched this fall, will focus on working with judges, legal professionals, and governmental and nongovernmental organizations to improve access to justice in an effort to eliminate violence against women and girls.

In addition, Avon has committed $250,000 to the United Nations Development Fund for Women for its UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, to which Avon awarded $1 million last year.

To date, Avon and its foundation have committed more than $14 million to ending violence against women. "For over 120 years, Avon has provided women with economic opportunity while serving as a change agent for critical issues that face women worldwide," said Avon chair and CEO Andrea Jung. "Lack of financial resources and lack of personal safety are two reinforcing, co-dependent crises. We are so proud to help bring attention to eradicating violence against women and improving access to justice for women and girls, and to award new grants that will help launch initiatives to change lives around the globe."