Photo below: Mary Kay Ash, late founder of Mary Kay Inc.
Photos courtesy of Mary Kay Cosmetics

Together with her son Richard R. Rogers, who co-founded the company in 1963, mother and son grew Mary Kay as one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics in the world.

The Company has more than 900,000 Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants in 33 markets worldwide with sales surpassing $1.4 billion in 2001.

"Mary Kay dedicated her life to enriching women's lives," said Rogers about his mother.

"She was thrilled to watch members of her independent sales force achieve unprecedented personal and financial success and, ultimately, realized that the collective efforts of the hundreds of thousands of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants worldwide could have a positive impact on two problems that affect so many women. It's gratifying to see women respond as she knew they would."

Ten custom-designed handbags of late company founder, Mary Kay Ash.

So, When more than 50,000 Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants gathered recently in Dallas for the Company's annual convention, it is not surprise that they celebrated her life, and supported her charitable cause.

The attendees were given the opportunity to win a handbag. Not just any handbag -- one of 10 custom-designed purses carried to previous conventions by the Company's late founder, Mary Kay Ash.

The innovative contest raised more than $250,000, all of which was donated to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation.

The Foundation, founded in 1996, has donated more than $2.6 million to fund groundbreaking cancer research and efforts to prevent violence against women.

Concluded Rogers, "My mother deeply believed and encouraged all of us with the wisdom that 'all you bring into the lives of others will come back into your own.' Her life was a testament to this truth, and her legacy will continue to enrich the lives of women everywhere."