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Andrea Jung, president and chief executive officer of Avon Products Inc. has been chosen to receive the prestigious Award for Distinguished Service from the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in recognition of her many contributions to women's health. The award will be presented to Ms. Jung at the fall meeting of the medical center's advisory council on Nov. 9, 2000.

Under Ms. Jung's leadership, Avon is increasing its role in women's health and well-being in the United States and around the world.

In October, she announced that the Avon Worldwide Fund for Women's Health, which supports programs in 30 countries, had surpassed $100 million, and she committed to reaching $200 million by the end of 2002. Columbia-Presbyterian's Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of five academic research centers nationwide—and the only one in New York—to receive $2.2 million from the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade in March and received a second Avon gift of $10 million last month. The center is using the funds to advance breast cancer research and to provide care for medically underserved women with breast cancer.

The Award for Distinguished Service is presented by the Columbia-Presbyterian Health Sciences Advisory Council. The council meets twice a year and presents the award to individuals who have shown a committed interest in medical research, encouraged development of this field, and raised awareness on a national level.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to honor Ms. Jung and Avon today for their significant commitment to breast cancer medical research, education, and support services," says Dr. David Hirsh, interim dean for research at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.

"Avon's continuing support of important clinical and research efforts will have a long-term impact on the struggle against this deadly disease," says Dr. Thomas Q. Morris, interim dean for educational and clinical affairs at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.

"On behalf of Avon, I am extremely proud to receive the Award for Distinguished Service," Ms. Jung declares. "Corporations can have dreams, and at Avon our dream is to see the eradication of breast cancer. We are able to mobilize thousands of individuals to raise funds for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, and we will continue until the disease is defeated."

Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, applauded Ms. Jung for the determined pursuit of her dream of eradicating breast cancer. "Because of the generous support of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center is able to provide greater access to breast cancer screening and treatment services for medically underserved women and to intensify its level of biomedical research directed toward finding a cure for this disease. We are committed to making her dream a reality."

This Award for Distinguished Service is the first to be given jointly by Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York-Presbyterian Hospital's Columbia–Presbyterian campus. Formerly known as the Dean's Award for Distinguished Service, the award has been previously given to Rob Reiner, Mary Lasker, Rosalynn Carter, Tipper Gore, Anna Wintour, Dr. Michael DeBakey, and Congressman Charles Rangel.