Mary Kay and the Women in Pink Build a Habitat for Humanity Home During Annual Conference at the Dallas Convention Center

DALLAS--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--As thousands of Mary Kay Independent Sales Force members converge on Dallas for Mary Kay Inc.’s annual Seminar, this year the women in pink will trade their suits and heels for saws and hammers. As part of Mary Kay’s Beauty that Counts^® initiative, the company and members of the Mary Kay independent sales force will don Mary Kay pink t-shirts, tool belts and hard hats to hammer with compassion, paint with inspiration and build with confidence a Habitat for Humanity home at the Dallas Convention Center.

“Each day, volunteers will build this house with a family that will have a first time opportunity to own a safe and affordable home. We are so excited to work together with the Mary Kay independent sales force and then move the house to its permanent location in West Dallas.”

The build will take place over the duration of Mary Kay Inc.’s annual conference in downtown Dallas, July 21 – Aug. 7. The Habitat for Humanity house will be constructed by members of the Mary Kay independent sales force who are braving the Texas summer heat to volunteer for half-day shifts over 15 days.

“Our founder Mary Kay Ash emphasized the importance of giving back to others. This is part of her legacy and our corporate heritage,” said Mary Kay Vice President Yvette Franco. “Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful organization and this project is a great way for the Mary Kay independent sales force and our company to reinforce Mary Kay’s mission of enriching women’s lives.”

Mary Kay has a long-standing history with Habitat for Humanity across the United States and has donated more than 13,000 volunteer hours through the building and sponsorship of 8 additional Habitat homes. This home marks Mary Kay’s 9^th Habitat house sponsorship nationally.

“Mary Kay’s commitment to giving back to the community is impressive and well known,” said Bill Hall, chief executive officer of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. “Each day, volunteers will build this house with a family that will have a first time opportunity to own a safe and affordable home. We are so excited to work together with the Mary Kay independent sales force and then move the house to its permanent location in West Dallas.”

Mary Kay’s annual Seminar brings together independent sales force members from around the world during five, back-to-back conferences at the Dallas Convention Center to celebrate the success of the Mary Kay independent sales force and provide education, motivation and recognition.

Beauty that Counts^®

Also as part of Beauty that Counts^® in the United States, from May 1, 2010, through Sept. 15, 2010, $1 will be donated from each sale of limited-edition Beauty that Counts^® Mary Kay^® Creme Lipsticks in three shades named Compassion, Inspiration and Confidence while supplies last. As part of this effort, Mary Kay Inc. will support The Mary Kay Foundation’s efforts to end domestic violence.

About Mary Kay

Mary Kay is one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics in the world. In 2009 Mary Kay Inc. and its international subsidiaries achieved $2.5 billion in wholesale sales worldwide. Mary Kay® products are sold in more than 35 markets worldwide, and the global Mary Kay independent sales force exceeds 2 million. To learn more about Mary Kay, log on to www.marykay.com or call 1-800-MARY KAY (1-800-627-9529).

About Habitat for Humanity

The mission of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is to transform neighborhoods by engaging families and community partners in creating affordable housing. Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity’s vision is that all individuals and families live in thriving neighborhoods where hopes and dreams are realized for generations to come because poverty housing is socially, politically and spiritually unacceptable. Since 1986, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity has served almost 800 low-income families using homeownership as an anchor for hope, change, and fellowship and resulting in an investment of approximately $52 million in 22 neighborhoods of Dallas County. Dallas Habitat is the fourth largest affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in the United States, an organization that has over 1,700 affiliates in the U.S. and has built more than 300,000 homes around the world, providing over 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.