Mary Kay Renews Sponsorship of Dating Abuse Helpline

Admin   |   17 February, 2015   |   272   |   3980

At Mary Kay, empowering women is about much more than lipstick and pink Cadillacs. Through its Don’t Look Away initiative, the global cosmetics brand has become a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence, including the one in three teens who experience dating abuse. Following a three-year partnership with text-for-help service loveisrespect, Mary Kay has announced plans to sponsor the helpline for an additional six years.

Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline launched loveisrespect.org as a tool for young people, with extensive information regarding dating abuse, as well as chat, text and phone crisis services. Since Mary Kay signed on as lead sponsor in 2012, the number of communications received over the helpline has increased by 48 percent. In 2014 alone, loveisrespect responded to nearly 56,000 texts, online chats and phone calls from across the nation.

“Mary Kay has long been a leader in working to end dating abuse in our communities, and we are thrilled about the continuation of our partnership,” Katie Ray-Jones, CEO for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, shared in the company’s statement. “This gift will help provide critical resources to teens and young adults and ensure that someone is always available when a young person is ready to reach out for help.”

Mary Kay’s ongoing partnership with loveisrespect will include an additional $1.25 million grant distributed over the next three years. The organizations have also announced plans to continue working with the national headquarters of Alpha Chi Omega, providing healthy relationship education and tools to the sorority’s collegiate chapters nationwide.