Detailed national findings from the 2012 “Mary Kay Truth About Abuse Survey” reveal alarming trends in light of the economy’s decline since 2008, including:

• 78 percent of domestic violence shelters nationwide (nearly eight out of ten) report an increase in women seeking assistance from abuse.
• 74 percent of survivors stayed with an abusive partner longer because of financial issues.
• 58 percent of shelters reported that the abuse is more violent now than before 2008.
• 87 percent of domestic violence shelters (nearly nine out of ten) expect their overall situation during the next 12 months will be worse than now, or the same as now, due to the economy.
• 95 percent reported that survivors needed to stay in shelters for longer durations of time.
• Of shelters that were forced to reduce services, 47 percent decreased childcare efforts, which meant that they were not able to help one in four children.
• 86 percent of shelters witnessed negative social effects on children such as bullying or withdrawal.
• 62 percent reported that young women (age 12-24) are requesting help in greater numbers.
• 92 percent of shelters had to end or scale back specific programs and services.

BEAUTY THAT COUNTS^®

Thanks to you, Mary Kay has donated millions of dollars USD to causes that change the lives of women and children around the world.  The funds for these donations came from the worldwide sale of Beauty That Counts® Mary Kay® products since 2008.  These donations are giving survivors of domestic violence a chance to heal, cancer sufferers a hope for tomorrow and orphaned children a reason to smile.

As part of this effort in the United States, Mary Kay Inc. is proud to support  The Mary Kay Foundation^SM in its efforts to end domestic violence.

Learn more

NATURE EXPLORE CLASSROOMS

Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation^SM have built 13 Nature Explore Classrooms at women’s shelters across the country and will fund four more in 2012.  The Nature Explore Classrooms are the first of their kind to be built at domestic violence shelters.  The classrooms provide outdoor learning spaces where the power of nature can help children learn, play and heal from abuse.

SHELTER GRANTS

The Mary Kay Foundation^SM awards $3 million in shelter grants to 150 domestic violence shelters nationwide each year.  Each shelter receives a $20,000 grant to help combat domestic violence, educate local communities and provide much needed shelter and rehabilitation services.  By the end of 2012, The Mary Kay Foundation^SM  will have donated more than $31 million to domestic violence organizations nationwide.

Learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation ^SM

LOBBYING FOR GOOD

Mary Kay and members of the independent sales force are lobbying legislators to help prevent and end domestic violence. Since the 1980s, Mary Kay Inc. and members of its independent sales force have lobbied Congress and state legislatures on issues including the Violence Against Women Act and, most recently, teen dating violence awareness and prevention. Mary Kay and members of the Mary Kay independent sales force have lobbied state lawmakers in California, Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and members of Congress in Washington, D.C.

BREAK THE CYCLE DVD

With one in three teens being the victim of physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse in a relationship,** Mary Kay Inc. partnered with the national nonprofit organization Break the Cycle to sponsor its interactive "Ending Violence" DVD. This comprehensive DVD was made available to schools nationwide in February 2010 as part of the first-ever Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This preventive education curriculum teaches teens about healthy relationships.

For more information, please visit www.breakthecycle.org.

**According to Break the Cycle