The Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Throughout her life, Mary Kay Ash showed others how to live and how to give. She gave hope to women who lacked opportunity, self-esteem and financial support. Now her legacy of love lives on through The Mary Kay Foundation, which she began in 1996. Make a tribute in honor of Mary Kay Ash today. Our mission is to eliminate cancer and to end the epidemic of violence against women. Our accomplishments are highlighted in our 2011 Year in Review.

How Mary Kay's quest for the cure began

Virtually everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. Mary Kay's personal encounter came in 1980 when her husband, Mel Ash, died of lung cancer. Subsequently, each time a member of the extended Mary Kay family was diagnosed with cancer, she became even more determined to work to find a cure. In 1987, Mary Kay decided to put her money where her heart was and asked employees at Mary Kay Inc. and the independent sales force to do the same. Together they began raising funds for cancer research, and in 1996, the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation was established to formalize the raising and distributing of research funds for cancers affecting women. In 2009, the name of the Foundation was changed to The Mary Kay Foundation. Domestic Violence Added to Our Mission. Mary Kay cared about all issues affecting women. Her mission was to enrich women's lives around the world. So when the first domestic violence shelter was being established in Dallas, the founders naturally came to her for potential funding, volunteers and product donations. Mary Kay responded with support. She knew domestic violence was a problem in the community. In time, she began to hear how prevalently this issue affected the Mary Kay Inc. independent sales force across the nation. So in July 2000, the Foundation embraced a second mission: to prevent violence against women.