Phil-based women's NGO to receive global advocacy award in New York

Avon to Honor the Philippines’ Champion in the Fight Against Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence at the
Avon Foundation Global Voices for Change Gala

Fergie, Lea Salonga, Natasha Bedingfield and Other Global Music Icons
to Announce the Winners of the Avon Voices Talent Search at the Gala Event

NEW YORK, October 28, 2011 – Avon Products, Inc. will celebrate the culmination of its 125th anniversary year on November 2 at the Avon Foundation for Women Global Voices for Change Awards Gala. Global champions working to end breast cancer and domestic violence and the winners of Avon Voices will be announced in a gala event to be held at the Marriot Marquis in New York City’s Times Square.

Avon Foundation for Women Global Awards Recipients
Every year since 2001 at its annual gala, Avon recognizes individuals and organizations for their leadership in the causes that are most important to women. This year, Avon Foundation For Women Gala honorees span the globe, honoring organizations that improve access to breast health care and assist victims of domestic and gender violence.

Receiving one of the two 2011 Global Community Advocacy Champion awards is our very own Women’s Crisis Center based in Quezon City for its life-saving work to support victims of domestic violence. The Center provides crisis intervention, counseling, temporary shelter, education and training services and serves as secretariat for the National Network of Family Violence Prevention Programs. Theresa Balayon, Women’s Crisis Center Executive Officer, will accept the award. Avon Foundation for Women President Carol Kurzig, our very own Lea Salonga, and Australian Artist of the Decade Delta Goodrem, will present the award.

Avon Voices
Also at the Gala, the Avon Voices talent search will conclude with the announcement of the two Avon Voices winners – one an Avon Representative – who will be chosen from among the top ten finalists, based on a combination of their live performances. Joining the roster of ten finalists is Manila’s lone representative, Joy Loria, alongside the finalists from Brazil, Lithuania, US, Canada, UK, Thailand Venezuela and Russia. Joy is on a head-to-head battle with co-Avon Representative Selena Gittens of Canada.

The winners of the Avon Voices talent search will record an album that will be sold through Avon distribution channels in select markets, and include an original song written by Grammy and Golden Globe award winner Diane Warren and produced by seven-time Grammy winning producer/engineer Humberto Gatica. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this album in 2012 will go to the Avon Foundation for Women. Additionally, Avon Voices will make a $25,000 donation to the Avon Foundation in honor of its commitment to advancing women's empowerment around the world.

Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung, Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Ashley Greene and more than 800 guests and performers from 39 countries will attend this star-studded celebration, which is expected to raise more than $2.3 million for the Avon Foundation for Women. The event can be viewed via Livestream at www.facebook.com/avonvoices beginning 7:30 AM, Nov. 3 (Philippine Time).

For more information about Avon Voices, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45814-avon-voices/ To follow the event via Twitter, reference the official event hashtag: #avon125.