The Mary Kay Ash Foundation® has announced $2.4 million in grants to support cancer research and domestic violence shelters across the U.S. Since its founding in 1996, the foundation has contributed over $96 million toward eliminating women-related cancers and ending domestic violence.
2024 Domestic Violence Shelter Grants:
- National Grants (50 shelters): 50 domestic violence shelters or drop-in centers received $20,000 each, totaling $1 million. These funds will support services such as facility improvements, transportation, legal aid, counseling, and child care.
- Local Grants (4 shelters in North Texas): Four shelters—Denton County Friends of the Family, Hope’s Door New Beginning Center, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, and The Family Place—each received $25,000 to enhance outreach and address specific community needs.
2024 Cancer Research Grants:
- Translational Cancer Research (12 grants): $1.2 million was awarded to 12 investigators from leading universities, with each receiving $100,000 for research on cancers affecting women. These grants aim to improve detection, prognosis, and treatment.
- Clinical Trial (1 grant): A $100,000 grant was awarded to Baylor Scott & White Foundation for a clinical trial led by Dr. Joyce O’Shaughnessy, studying weight loss inhibitors to prevent breast cancer recurrence in overweight patients.
Groundbreaking research includes work by Dr. Maria Sosa from Albert Einstein College of Medicine on preventing breast cancer metastasis, and Dr. Adrienne Boire of Memorial Sloan Kettering, who is investigating how breast cancer cells communicate across brain barriers.
Michael Lunceford, chair of the foundation’s board, emphasized, “Creating a safer, healthier world for women means ensuring that those leading pioneering cancer research and domestic violence services have the resources they need.”
For nearly 30 years, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation has provided over $96 million to support women’s shelters and cancer research in the U.S. For more information, visit marykayashfoundation.org.
About Mary Kay Ash Foundation®:
The foundation, inspired by Mary Kay Ash’s vision, funds efforts to end domestic violence and advance cancer research for women. Since 1996, it has invested over $96 million in initiatives supporting women’s health and safety. Learn more at marykayashfoundation.org or follow the foundation on social media.
