Avon Products, Inc. is celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the company and has held numerous events through this milestone year focusing on its heritage of empowering women to support themselves and their families. These include the Avon Believe World Tour, which visited 16 cities; concerts and special events; and anniversary celebrations for the company’s 42,000 associates.

Most recently on Sept. 14 in New York, Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung marked the 125 anniversary milestone by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange with Avon representatives, executives and Jim Clark, grandson of Avon Founder David H. McConnell.

“Today we pay tribute to all who have made Avon a success over the past 125 years and to all who have helped Avon maintain its position as the largest engine of women’s economic opportunity in the world. We honor our prescient Founder, David H. McConnell, who had the revolutionary belief that women deserved an opportunity to earn an income. We honor the millions of women who have been Avon representatives through the years and the thousands of associates who have worked so hard, and continue to do so every day,” said Jung. “We believe so strongly in our mission as the company for women to improve women’s lives and make a difference. Our belief in our purpose has been our guiding compass for 125 years, and it will remain our roadmap for the future.”

This year Avon also launched the $2 million Avon Global Believe Fund which continues the company’s work to end violence against women. The fund is making grants throughout 2011 to women’s domestic violence shelters and agencies.