The holiday season is a time for celebrating, enjoying time with family and friends and usually trying to find a special gift for at least one person on your list who doesn't need a thing. So, what's the best gift to give? Make a donation to the Avon Foundation for Women in his or her name. With a new diagnosis of breast cancer every three minutes, and one in four women becoming a victim of domestic violence, your donation will help the Avon Foundation support breast cancer research and improve access to care, as well as provide funds for domestic violence education, prevention and victim support programs. One dollar, one woman and one day at a time.  Help change a life.

As reported on nearly every news station across the country, on November 16, 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended changing current mammography screening guidelines to begin biennial screening in women after age 50, discontinue screening for women over 75 years of age, and no longer promote self breast exam. The Avon Foundation continues to support the guidelines recommended by expert groups - American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and others - including that women get to know their own bodies through breast self awareness and immediately report any changes to their doctor, begin annual screening mammography at age 40, and continue annual screening mammography for as long as the women is in good health.  The Avon Foundation for Women advocates for empowering women of all ages by ensuring they have access to medical experts with whom to discuss breast health and the knowledge to make informed decisions with their doctors on breast health care, early detection screening for breast cancer, breast cancer risk and risk reduction strategies. To read more about our response to the USPSTF mammography recommendations, please visit www.avonfoundation.org.

On the evening of October 27th at the legendary Cipriani 42nd Street New York, more than 550 supporters came together to recognize those who are making a difference for the causes of breast cancer and domestic violence. The ninth annual Avon Foundation for Women Gala celebrated outstanding partners who advance the work of the Foundation - true Champions Who Change Women's Lives. The star-studded event was hosted by Honorary Foundation Chair, Reese Witherspoon and Andrea Jung, Chairman and CEO, Avon Products Inc., with a special musical performance by Fergie. View the video here

The Gala raised $2 million for breast cancer research and access to care and domestic violence education, prevention and victim support programs. Since the Gala's inception in 2001, more than $17.7 million has been raised and throughout this time, we have recognized extraordinary individuals, organizations and companies for their leadership in women's causes. 

The Medical Advancement in Breast Cancer Award was presented by Patrick and Jillian Dempsey and Andrea Jung to Barbara Cicatelli and Kathy Gates-Ferris, founder and director of the non-profit organization Cicatelli Associates Inc. for their management of the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund (AFBCF). Now celebrating 10 years of helping women most in need of breast cancer screening and treatment services, the AFBCF has distributed nearly $50 million to community-based programs providing culturally-sensitive education and outreach to underserved women - including low-income, elderly, minority, rural-based and underserved areas across the country. By the end of 2009, these programs will have linked women to one million mammograms and clinical breast exams and educated more than 15 million people about the importance of early detection. 

The Community Advocacy Champion Award was presented by Reese Witherspoon to Casey Gwinn, J.D. for the National Family Justice Center Alliance on behalf of victims of domestic violence. Through Casey's exceptional leadership, the first Family Justice Center was established in San Diego in 2002 as a "one stop shop" for services to victims of family violence. The model has been replicated more than 40 times in the U.S. as well as globally, in Mexico, the U.K. and Canada. 

The Voice of Courage Award was presented by Suze Orman, financial expert and Special Ambassador of the Foundation, to Sapphire, author of the gripping and emotional book Push and Paula Patton, actress in the new film version, "Precious" speaking out for those who cannot and using their creativity and commitment to take a stand on these critical problems. Patton plays the role of the empathetic teacher, Ms. Rain, in this powerful new film that turns a spotlight on the devastating impact of family violence and abuse. 

The Women's Empowerment Champion Award was presented by actress Courteney Cox to Avon West Area Sales Leader Kathleen Earle and team member Jennifer Torres, representing Team Avon West, which raised over $300,000 in Avon Walks for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles, Colorado and San Francisco. The award honors members of the Avon Family who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic commitment.

Firmenich and its CEO Patrick Firmenich were inducted into the Avon Hall of Fame presented by Andrea Jung. The Hall of Fame recognizes extraordinary support by generous allies who share Avon's dedication to eradicating breast cancer and domestic violence. The 115 year old Firmenich is the largest privately held company in the flavors and fragrances business and has worked with Avon for 40 years.

The m.powerment Award was developed by mark, Avon's beauty and fashion boutique brand, to recognize programs that empower young women to prevent dating abuse and partner violence. Lauren Conrad, Honorary Chair of m.powerment announced a new grant of $50,000 to The New York City Healthy Relationship Training Academy, run by the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence. The grant was presented to the Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, Yolanda Jimenez, joined by The Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs and Counsel to the Mayor, Carol Robles-Roman. The funds, won by Conrad on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" Charity Edition, will accelerate the Academy's efforts to raise awareness and educate thousands more young people throughout New York City to help reduce violence in young couples. 

Katie Koestner, Executive Director, Take Back The Night Foundation, (left) and Carol Kurzig, President, Avon Foundation for Women, (right) welcome delegates to the TBTN First National Conference held at Columbia University in early November.

130 campus advocates, student leaders and college administrators from across the country attended this inaugural forum on November 7th at Columbia University in New York City to find new solutions to the escalation of dating violence and abuse on campuses nationwide. Take Back The Night (TBTN) is a national movement led by Katie Koestner, the first woman to speak out nationally and publicly about date rape after a personal experience in 1990. Since the 1970's TBTN has worked to bring attention to sexual violence and abuse on campuses and in communities around the U.S. and abroad. 

"The Avon Foundation for Women is proud to have funded this First National Conference with The Take Back The Night Foundation," said Carol Kurzig, President of The Avon Foundation for Women. "Together, we were able to convene a dynamic and motivated group of active thought leaders from across the country and learn about their successes and challenges to address the escalating problem of dating violence and abuse on college campuses. Together we are working toward ending the cycle of violence." 

Avon Foundation President Carol Kurzig (left) and Suze Orman (right) at the Avon Walk New York presenting a grant to New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center.

The 2009 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series came to a close in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 25. These life-changing weekends took place in nine cities from April through October and every single step taken by every participant built awareness to help end breast cancer in communities across the country. More than 20,000 participants trained, walked and fundraised to help raise more than $52 million! The money raised by the 2009 Avon Walk series is already being put to good use, in communities nationwide. 

In an unprecedented year of economic challenges, The Avon Foundation salutes and celebrates those who continue to find ways to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the efforts of the Avon Foundation. In 2009, The Foundation awarded more than 220 new grants to organizations that provide critical services ranging from outreach and education, to giving underserved women access to quality care, diagnostics to cutting-edge scientific research. 

While we are grateful to have the ability to provide tremendous support to the breast cancer community, there were millions of dollars requested in highly rated grant proposals submitted by organizations in every part of the country that we did not have the funds to support. Some of these include:

• A community hospital in Northern California requested $230,000 to purchase the only digital mammography unit in their entire county where 35.2% of the population lives below the federal poverty line. The unit would have become the cornerstone of a comprehensive breast health program.

• A Boston-based breast health program which requested $270,000 to provide timely mammography screening and diagnostic services for its low income, multiethnic patient population.

• A scientist in New York at a University Medical Center submitted a proposal for $1.5 million to study the causes of inflammatory breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that tends to target younger women and women of color.

• A scientist at a major medical institution in Texas wants $300,000 to study the earliest changes in healthy breast tissue before cancer arises in order to develop new ways to prevent the disease in the first place.

Sadly, the Avon Foundation could not provide the critical funds this year to support these programs. But with your help, we can change the future. With your donation today you will take an important step that will help us fund more programs like these that will educate and provide women access to quality care for those who otherwise would go without, and accelerate scientific discovery from the lab to the clinic. With your donation, we can save more lives. Click here to make a donation now.

We have made great progress, but there is still so much more to be done in order to save lives and find a cure. Please register for the Avon Walk, volunteer or donate today.