Over one million teens will hear intercom announcements tomorrow for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Break the Cycle (www.breakthecycle.org), a leading teen dating violence prevention organization, joins forces with Mary Kay Inc. (www.marykay.com) and schools across the country to make a National Announcement about teen dating abuse.

This February marks the inaugural Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In celebration, Break the Cycle launched the Have a Heart Campaign (www.haveaheartcampaign.org) to bring national attention to this issue. Tomorrow, as part of the campaign, Break the Cycle will reach more than one million teens with a National Announcement, promoting education about teen dating abuse by reading a scripted message over the intercom.

“The rate of abuse in teen relationships is alarming and urgently calls for all of us to take action,” said Marjorie Gilberg, Executive Director of Break the Cycle. “The Have a Heart Campaign encourages teens to talk openly about this issue and hopefully, save lives as a result.”

With support from Mary Kay, the first 100 schools who registered for the National Announcement received a free copy of Break the Cycle’s innovative prevention program, Ending Violence, along with heart-shaped stickers so students can literally wear their hearts on their sleeves to raise awareness about the issue.

“Mary Kay has a long-standing commitment to ending domestic violence. We know that our partnership with Break the Cycle and the development of the Ending Violence DVD will have a tremendous impact in preventing teen dating violence and stopping the horrific cycle of domestic violence before it starts,” said Crayton Webb, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Mary Kay Inc. “The Ending Violence DVD makes essential information about healthy relationships easily accessible to teenagers and schools across the country.  We all can do our part by signing the online petition at http://www.enddatingviolence.com for legislation supporting the Ending Violence DVD and teen dating violence prevention programs in schools across the country.”

As part of the National Announcement, Break the Cycle has invited members of the United States Congress to make one-minute speeches from the House floor on the morning of February 10.

For more information about the Have a Heart Campaign or where you can go to hear the National Announcement, please visit www.haveaheartcampaign.org or www.breakthecycle.org.

About Break the Cycle

Break the Cycle believes everyone has the right to safe and healthy relationships. As the leading voice for teens on the issue of dating violence, Break the Cycle advocates for policy and legislative changes that will better protect the rights and promote the health of teens nationwide. Engaging, educating and empowering youth through prevention and intervention programs, Break the Cycle helps young people identify and build healthy relationships. For more information, please visit www.breakthecycle.org.

About Mary Kay

Mary Kay is one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics. In 2008 Mary Kay Inc. and its international subsidiaries achieved $2.6 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).