Avon honors champs of women empowerment at NYC event

The champions of women empowerment in entertainment and business were recently honored by Avon during a glittering two-day affair held at Hard Rock Café and Marriott Marquis Hotel both in Times Square, New York City.

Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre who covered the affair for Funfare said that Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas and Lea Salonga joined forces with other powerful women as Avon, the leading beauty company, also cited the champions in the fight against breast cancer and domestic violence.

Said Edmund, “Also lending their celebrity power to Avon’s noble cause were Natasha Bedingfield, Ashley Greene, Diane Warren, Sheila E., David Pack and other noted artists including Russia’s singing sensation Valeriya, Colombia’s singer-songwriter Maia, Latin Grammy-winning singer and Brazil’s pop queen Ivete Sangalo and Australia’s Artist of the Decade Delta Goodrem.”

The Women’s Crisis Center in Quezon City, Philippines, was bestowed the first Global Community Advocacy Champions Award for providing crisis intervention, counseling, temporary shelter and other life-saving support to victims of domestic violence. The Center also serves as secretariat for the National Network of Family Violence Prevention Programs in the Philippines.

The award was personally accepted by Theresa Baylon, executive officer of Women’s Crisis Center, during the Avon Foundation for Women Global Voices for Change Gala. Presenting the award was Lea and Avon chairman and CEO Andrea Jung, with Delta Goodrem and Avon Foundation for Women president Carol Kurzig.

United Kingdom’s Refuge, the largest single provider of specialized domestic violence services in the UK, was also accorded the same recognition.

Meanwhile, the Barretos Cancer Hospital (that assists some 3,000 low-income patients a day in rural Brazil) and the Stowarzyszenie Amazonki (the Association of Amazon Women that helps breast cancer patients throughout Poland) were honored with the Global Breast Cancer Medical Advancement Champions Award.

Avon also presented the 2011 Voice for Change Champion Award to Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief of Glamour, for calling attention to partner violence through various articles and surveys held by the magazine and by its participation with Avon’s “Tell Somebody” campaign that encouraged women to talk about violence in relationship.

“This year, we are thrilled that our awards reflect the truly global nature of our critical work to eradicate breast cancer and violence against women,” said Jung, who is in Forbes’ List of 100 Most Powerful Women. “We honor the dedication and support of our partners around the world who share in our commitment to improve the lives of women. By the end of this year, our 125th year, Avon global philanthropy will have donated more than $860M, thanks to the grassroots efforts of our network of 6.5 million representatives, 40,000 associates and hundreds of millions of consumers, making us the largest corporate philanthropy focused solely on women’s causes in the world.”

Edmund noted that Avon has raised over $2.3M from the gala that will go straight to its foundation for women.

The event was also highlighted by the conclusion of the Avon Voices talent search, where 10 finalists from all over the world, including Avon rep Joy Loria of the Philippines, competed live on the Hard Rock Café stage before a panel of judges that included Fergie and Lea, with 2.5 million votes received from around the world.

Launched a year ago, thousands of Avon reps and consumers from 60 countries joined the search until the number was trimmed down to 10 to compete for the finals, according to Avon Philippines PR head Faith Fernandez-Aranton.

Avon rep Selena Gittens of Canada and Evelina Anusauskaite of Lithuania were adjudged the two top winners. As a prize, they will record an album that will be sold through Avon distribution channels and will include an original song, Be What You Believe, written by Grammy and Golden Globe-winning music legend Diane Warren, and produced by seven-time Grammy-winning producer/engineer Humberto Gatica.

Edmund quoted Lea as saying that Joy, who is Avon’s top-selling rep in the Philippines, is still a winner for making it to the Top 10 considering the number of competitors from across the globe and the hurdles the aspirants had to overcome to get to the final stage of Avon Voices.

“Remember that Joy is one of Top 10 and she’s not even a professional singer,” Lea told Funfare at the Avon red carpet. “Out of all the countries in the world that have tried out to get into tonight’s finals, the Philippines has a contender. That says a lot about the quality of our singers and our exposure to music and the kind of soul and the heart that we put into any performance that we do.”

Meanwhile, Fergie, who told Funfare that she’s “half Filipina” because of her relation with apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda), said Joy’s competitiveness reminded her of “the strong Filipino women.”

“She’s got that attitude on stage, she’s got that fire and fierceness that Filipino women do have,” said Fergie who also shared with Funfare her “unforgettable” visit to the Philippines during their recent concert. “Apl brought us to that beautiful hot spring in Pampanga and I loved it!” Fergie exclaimed.

Joy Loria, styled for the two-night event by American Idol hairstylist Dean Banowetz, said she will continue working for Avon and serving as a worship leader and singer for her Christian church. According to Joy, Avon has provided her financial independence and that she hopes to also continue helping empower more women who are economically challenged.

Asked by GMA 7’s New York correspondent Richard Reyes what advice she can give to women who come from a poor background or needed motivation, Joy replied, “Just believe in yourself and never waiver in your faith in God. Never stop dreaming and never stop reaching for that dream by always doing something productive and worthwhile.”

What’s up?

• Ricky Davao (photo) is the latest victim of evil minds who create FAKE websites. Ricky is reminding everybody to ignore and disregard the IamRickyDavao Twitter account which shows a photo of Ricky’s in green shirt. “Very bad talaga,” said Ricky who is made to appear in the FAKE Twitter that he’s badmouthing people including stars close to him. “Please don’t believe anything that comes out in that fake Twitter,” said Ricky.

• Another victim also of “Twitter fakers” is GMA boss Atty. Felipe Gozon (photo), prompting a GMA executive to issue this warning: Please be informed that GMA chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon does not have a Twitter account. Any account using his name is fictitious.” Atty. Gozon’s name is also used by somebody who’s using the celfone number 0926-2054945 who sent the following text message (quoted as is) to a friend: Ur SIMcard#2nd lucky winner of P650,000 w/B.S.P. donation by Cong’s:MANNY PACQUIAO.pls Call me Now, I’m Atty. Felipe Gozon DTI1530S’11. Thank you! Don’t take text messages like that seriously. Better still, report sender’s number to the police.

• Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos (photo) is inviting everybody to the grand 430th Foundation Day of Batangas on Dec. 7 and 8 hosted by Calaca town. It’s a week-long festival called Ala, Eh! from Dec. 1 to 8. There will be booths for every town and city selling their respective products. On Dec. 7, the annual Voices, Songs & Rhythms talent contest will be hosted by Luis Manzano and Ruffa Gutierrez; the board of judges include Ogie Alcasid (chairman), Ai-Ai delas Alas, Jennylyn Mercado, Gladys Reyes, Rico J. Puno, Sen Nichols, Liezl Garcia, Khalil Ramos, Ana Regalado, Vehnee Saturno and Lito Camo. Performers are Happy Feet and the Cercado Sisters, together with the mayors of the province.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)