When hundreds of company executives gathered in Miami for the 2011 annual convention of the Direct Selling Association, they did more than take in the Florida sunshine and discuss their direct selling businesses. On June 5th, CEOs and executives from notable companies such as Mary Kay, The Pampered Chef, Avon and more rolled up their sleeves and worked by side with the teens and tweens of the Greater Miami-Dade YWCA to help them make their facility a more inviting environment for Miami’s young people.
The event was sponsored by the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF), whose community service programs continue the direct selling industry’s rich tradition of giving back to the communities in which they do business. “Y We Care, a partnership between the YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade and the Direct Selling Education Foundation, is an event that demonstrates the deep commitment to corporate responsibility shared by the entire direct selling industry,” said Charlie Orr, DSEF’s Executive Director, “Leaders from our industry worked with the kids on a variety of creative projects. We painted, gardened, built bookshelves and helped the kids to document the day through photography and interviews.”
“To anticipate nearly a hundred guests exchanging ideas with our teens and tweens is exciting,’” said Eileen Maloney-Simon, CEO, YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade. “The leadership example and fellowship being shown to inner-city youth is outstanding and we are thankful to the Direct Selling Education Foundation for taking the time out of their conference schedule to do this community project.”
