Avon Puckers Up

In October Avon announced that it would donate the largest single corporate foundation gift ever made to the breast cancer cause – an unprecedented $50 million. Announced at the first-ever Avon Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer Awards gala, which raised another $1.6 million, the generous gift will be divided into four beneficiaries. $20 million will be given to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. Maryland to advance breast cancer research and expand vital early phase clinical interventions that show promise for effective prevention diagnosis and treatment. The remaining $30 million will be split between Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of California, San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago to support biomedical research, and clinical care for medically underserved women and construction of new facilities. And it doesn’t end there. Avon is committed to spending $250 million worldwide by the end of 2002. It is our honor to name president of Avon U.S., Brian Connolly in this year’s Business 100. ♦