"As a performer, I'm lucky to have the opportunity to share my messages with the public, but through 'A Kiss for Country,'
Mary Kay is allowing me to spread hope."

    — Martina McBride

"With one in three women in this country affected by domestic violence, it is important for survivors to know there is hope and help in their neighborhoods."

    — Rhonda Shasteen, Mary Kay Senior Vice President, Corporate Brand Strategy and Sales Support

A Kiss for Country
Ever dream of getting a kiss and autograph from your favorite country music star? Country music superstar Martina McBride, Mary Kay and the CMA will help make that dream come true for a good cause. "A Kiss for Country" brought country music's biggest stars together to pucker up and support the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation in its mission to end violence against women.

As The Official Beauty Sponsor of the 2007 CMA Awards held Nov. 7, Mary Kay collected kiss prints and autographs from over 30 of the hottest names in country music – Sara Evans, Reba McEntire, George Strait to name a few. Yes, even the guys puckered up to help (see sidebar).

One Kiss Can Make the Difference
These celebrity-smooched "kiss cards" will benefit the cause in two ways. First, the Foundation will award grants in 2008 of $20,000 in each artist's name to a domestic violence shelter in their state. Mary Kay Inc. and the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation have been supporting women's shelters, raising awareness and addressing the issues of violence against women for over a decade. Each year, the Foundation provides grants to women's shelters in all 50 states and, in 2008, will donate $3 million to women's shelters around the country. The second way the Foundation will benefit is through the online auction of the country stars' autographed "kiss cards." (See top right sidebar.)