Washington, D.C.(November 28) – The spirit of giving is alive and well in the direct selling industry this holiday season as the pooled resources of 38 direct selling companies have resulted in a donation of nearly $8 million in products and cash to the TODAY Show Toy Drive. During the three years the Direct Selling Association has coordinated the donations of member companies, the total raised approaches $22 million. In 2005, the direct selling industry donation accounted for nearly one third of the total raised by the Toy Drive.

Participating companies donated items from stuffed animals and books to children’s jewelry and toiletries for children and families across the country. DSA is scheduled to make the official donation live on the TODAY Show on November 29. In addition, at least four individual direct selling companies will receive air time to present their donations.

“This third year of participation in the Toy Drive by our industry demonstrates the commitment of our companies and their independent salesforce members to supporting the communities where they live and work,” said DSA President and CEO Neil Offen. “Our companies help people every day through the nature of the opportunities they offer, but their giving reaches far beyond their salesforce and customers – it touches the lives of millions of others in need.”

Companies from the smallest, newest member applicants to the largest, most established companies participated in this effort. Donations ranging from a handful of products to nearly $2.4 million in personal care products were received.

The following direct selling companies donated products and/or a monetary gift to the Toy Drive:

Avon Products, Inc.
BabyCrazy
Baby Signs
Baby Splendor
Beads of Hope, LLC
Big Yellow Box by Crayola
Bright Minds
Chic Pursenality, Inc.
Cookie Lee, Inc.
CUTCO/Vector Marketing Corporation
DeTech, Inc.
Earth's Elements
Essential Bodywear
Fifth Avenue Collection, Inc.
Freelife International
The Happy Gardener
Home & Garden Party, Inc.
Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc.
Jockey Person To Person
The Longaberger Company
Mary Kay Inc.
Nu Skin Enterprises
Our Own Image
The Pampered Chef
Partylite Gifts, Inc.
Princess House, Inc.
Quixtar Inc.
Signature HomeStyles
Southern Living At HOME
The Southwestern Company
Stampin' Up!
TARRAH Cosmetics, Inc.
Tupperware Brands
U Design Jewelry
Vantel Pearls
Weekenders USA, Inc.
Wildtree Herbs, Inc.
XanGo

The TODAY Show Toy Drive is a project of the Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are matched with the needs of more than 200 organizations with which the Today Show Charitable Foundation works.

About the Direct Selling Association
DSA is the trade association for the direct selling industry in the United States and represents the interests of more than 300 direct selling companies. More than 90 percent of U.S. domestic direct sales are conducted annually by these companies, many of which also have large global operations. In the U.S., direct selling is a $30 billion industry providing income opportunities for more than 14.1 million people. In the U.S., direct selling is defined as the sale of a consumer product or service, away from a fixed retail location. Worldwide sales exceed $102 billion via more than 58 million salespeople. For more information, visit DSA’s home page at www.dsa.org, or the World Federation of Direct Selling Association’s home page at www.wfdsa.org.

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