ABOUT THE AVON FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN

For over 60 years, the Avon Foundation for Women has been a driving force behind charitable, scientific, educational and humanitarian work that improves the lives of women and their families.  Their work has focussed on efforts to eradicate breast cancer and end domestic and gender violence globally.

Avon Products, Inc., a leading global brand in the direct selling of beauty and related products, created the Avon Foundation for Women in 1955 with the mission of improving the lives of women.  Avon is the company that for more than 130 years has proudly supported beauty, innovation, optimism, but above all women.

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THE CHALLENGE

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer among women, affecting thousands of women every year in Brazil.

And since 2003, IDIS, CAF’s partner in Brazil, has helped support the Avon Institute and its programme aimed at reducing the rate of mortality from breast cancer and improving the quality of life for women by focusing on early detection.

Through its research, the Institute found that not only was breast cancer of great concern, but the occurrence of the disease was increasing due to factors such as unhealthy habits and sedentary lifestyles.

The figures show the scale of the problem - in 2015, breast cancer was deemed to be one of the main challenges faced by the Brazilian government.[1]

Two years prior, over 14,200 women died from the disease[2] and in most cases the cancer was diagnosed in an advanced stage due to limited access to diagnosis services and treatment.

Recognising that 90% to 95% of the cases are curable if diagnosed at an early stage, the Avon Institute focused its strategy on the promotion of early detection, with help from IDIS in implementing the ground-breaking programme.  


[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4317062/

[2] http://www1.inca.gov.br/inca/Arquivos/informativo_numero3_2015.versao_2016.pdf

AVON’S COLLABORATION WITH IDIS

Avon’s corporate social responsibility branch partnered up with IDIS to provide women with access to key diagnostics and treatment.

IDIS’ role was to provide advisory services for the Institute’s funding programme and the design of their marketing campaign to raise awareness on the issue.

Avon’s charitable and community work is funded through the Institute’s operational expenses, but the resources applied to these projects come from the sale of its products, with 7% of the value of some cosmetics and fragrances allotted to the Institute.

THE OUTCOMES

What we have achieved so far:

$38.5 million

The amount Avon has invested in detection centres.

Mammography and ultrasound exams

Together, Avon and IDIS delivered almost 3 million mammography and ultrasound exams. Within the first year of the partnership, almost one million screenings were carried out.

£9 million

The Institute has raised over £9 million in Brazil through cause-related marketing and fundraising campaigns – allowing for the purchase of a further 42 mammogram machines and 26 ultrasound machines to conduct further screenings.

IDIS and CAF Global Alliance

Based in São Paulo, IDIS provides consultancy and technical support to companies, families and communities who wish to invest in social projects and programmes.

IDIS is a partner of the CAF Global Alliance, a network of nine locally-led, independent organisations that work across six continents.

Over the last 25 years, the Global Alliance and its international presence has led to breakthroughs and social change that’s had a positive effect on the lives of millions of vulnerable and disadvantaged people and communities.

At its core, the Global Alliance works to help strengthen civil society worldwide as part of the Charities Aid Foundation, a champion for giving that works to help donors, companies and charities make a bigger impact.

CAF International

By working with with local experts, CAF International has helped make a real difference to communities around the world.

Discover CAF International

GROWING A WORLDWIDE PARTNERSHIP

Thanks to CAF’s worldwide reach, Avon’s approach to corporate philanthropy has helped reach people both locally and on a global scale.

CAF’s Corporate and Advisory team in the UK has been supporting the Avon Foundation for Women in the US to carry out its mission to improve the lives of women and their families around the world, by helping deliver an international grant-making programme.

The team at CAF has been managing and implementing an impact-focused programme called the Avon Fund for Shelter Grants, which has provided funds for domestic violence shelters and services in Argentina, Romania, South Africa and the U.K.

Find out more about CAF's worldwide partnership  

 

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