More News From The Mary Kay Foundation

Two posts in one day! Thought this was awesome news and wanted to share it as a nice way to end the week!

Published 10.16.09

Nature Heals Scars of Violence

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, are building Nature Explore Classrooms at five women’s shelters across the United States as a part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, Pink Changing LivesSM.

Nature Explore Classrooms are outdoor learning spaces designed to include nature in the daily lives and learning of children. Research shows that nature buffers the impact of life stress on children, helps them deal with adversity, and reduces or eliminates anti-social behavior such as violence, bullying and vandalism – all of which are common in children who have witnessed abuse.

This is the first time Nature Explore Classrooms have been introduced to women’s shelters. Shelters receiving the Nature Explore Classrooms from Mary Kay are located in Illinois, Texas, California, New Jersey and Georgia. Along with the outdoor area, each Nature Explore Classroom includes a curriculum designed to help shelters and residents maximize the educational opportunities and healing effects associated with the outdoors.

“We know that helping women and children connect with nature during the healing process will empower them,” says Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc.’s vice president of government relations and board member of The Mary Kay Foundation. “Our primary goal is to enrich women’s lives. Because of this, Mary Kay will continue to be an advocate on the issue of domestic violence and a champion for women around the world.”