w o m e n ’ s v o i c e s f o r t h e e a r t h a n n u a l r e p o r t t w o - t h o u s a n d f o u r t e e n

the

voice

note from erin

this past year, women’s voices for the earth

(wve) launched a new campaign around the

sensitive issue of toxics in feminine products. the truth is: wve has never been afraid to

tackle the issues no one else wants to talk about.

it’s not an issue that hordes of foundations are racing to address, nor one that men in

congress are clamoring to solve. But it affects nearly 100% of the

population we serve. women have a right to know exactly what they are putting into their bodies, and the

right to be angry when companies refuse to tell them. they should know

that every ingredient being used near this

sensitive region of the body has been fully

evaluated for safety—not tested on their bodies.

that’s why wve took on the $3 billion feminine products industry, with all its baggage, cultural hang-ups, and the safe

harbor provided by mainstream media’s general tendency to

ignore this topic. thank you for joining us.

together, we can clean up this industry, too.

warmly,

erin switalski, executive director

What inspired you to establish the New Priorities Foundation?it’s pretty simple—ijust believe in giving back. i was an activist long before i was a funder, and that’s determined what i support and how i operate as a philanthropist. in my funding partnerships, i value relationship, education, and involvement. the foundation has given me, and my adult children, the responsibility and privilege of meaningful engagement with grantees. It challenges us to find the most critical needs and effective solutions. i created the foundation so we could learn and work together to be the best possible stewards of our resources.

How does Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) fit in with your foundation’s vision?new priorities’ vision is to create a more just and healthy world, and i believe this goal aligns perfectly with the vision of wve.

Your foundation has offered a matching grant to WVE over the next two years. What does this entail? Why did you decide to offer this opportunity?one of the things foundations want to see in their grantees is enduring financial

sustainability and the broadest possible base of support. the more funding sources an organization has, the more secure it can feel. while we are deeply committed to wve, we wanted to

give them an incentive to expand their

donor base, which certainly aligned

with their goals. so last year we awarded wve a three-year grant with the opportunity in years two and three to increase their total funding by raising funds from new donors, which we have agreed to match; and we offered to help WVE find new donors.

How did the Foundation become involved with Women’s Voices for the Earth?We were introduced first through a member of our family, eliza eddy, who worked for wve about 10 years ago. then we were introduced again through our board member annie watson who, as a nurse, had become increasingly interested in women’s health issues.

What attracted you to WVE’s work?the work is very personal and relevant—it’s about the health of our children, our earth, and us. what could be more compelling than that?

new priorities foundation offers a new donor challenge grant to women’s voices for the earth,

matching up to $20,000 in 2014 and up to $25,000 in 2015.

top: new priorities Board; Bottom left: pictured with two former assistants (nancy center); Bottom right: nancy hiking in chile

donor profile | NaNcY ScHaub

nancy schaub is an activist,

philanthropist, mother, and

grandmother living in san francisco.

she is founder and chair of the new

priorities foundation.

www.womensvoices.org

$20,000 +Anonymous (1)$5,000 +Anonymous (1) $2,500 +Allison C. ChinMartha Newell $1,000 +Anonymous (1)Ken Hubbard & Tori DauphinotDr. Sarah B. Lane

David Welborn & Ann Hunter-Welborn $500 +Anonymous (1)Jonathan ArstMary BillsConee L. BrownAlexandra CoeBrenda HammDawn McGeeAmber Dawn ShopayShauna L. Smith

Jonathan Vandenbroeck & Laura VanBouchoutOgonnaya Ifetayo Dotson NewmanAimee BoulangerEvelyn NewellBryony J. SchwanJulia Brooks GormanBetsy Hands & Paul Hubbard$250 +Anonymous (1)

Jody BangertAnn BlakeCathy CostakisAmy D. KyleJulie Mae MuidermanJulia Gibbs JessopAnne W.Lise R. GilletteDeborah PolhemusMarvie RedmondGail TennantKris & Bryce Thompson

Eric JerniganCharles & Mary Lynn EisemanDori GilelsMargaret & Gary KachadurianJoyce S.Wendy HunterCarol WordBarbara Wright$100 +Laura Althoff

Anonymous (8)Laura BenderJoan BenhamMary Sue BennettMarjorie Strathearn BouzetosDolly BrowderJulianne Bruno RN, BSN, CNORLynda CaineMeera CensorAmy Clark

Sara CloseSusan ColvinLynn A. DanielsDolberg, StevenAlison DornerJean DuncanNancy Dunne, N.D.Nancy & Ron EricksonSecky FascioneJoanna FieldElaine Gast FawcettGayle Gifford & Jon Howard

Steven G. GilbertBarbara GilmoreLibby Catron-Gingerelli & Aaron GingerelliElizabeth GormanEllie HandsErin HannaNeva HassaneinJanice H.Carolyn HermanMarcus P HeuchanLaura Hoover

Jennifer L. HopeJudith HutchinsKate JakubasAlysha J.Gerry JenningsKira & Joe JewettAnne Hoffman JohnsonEllen Fuller Kaufmann & Robert KaufmannEloise KendyGwyneth KirkAnn K.

Sophia KolehmainenCaroline KurtzMichelle KwiatkowskiNancy-ClairDune LankardJen LebowTom LentDerith MacBrideNatasha MalletteKristi MarshMelissa Kae MasonJulie McLennan

Anuja MendirattaMargaret Boyd MeyerMary Clare MurphyMarina PastorEva PattenKaren PeperToddy PerrymanCathie RagovinDebra & Steve RandallRebecca RitterJudith A. RuszkowskiCarol Rutgers

Elizabeth SchenkLaurie SchluebAlexandra ScrantonWade SikorskiNana SimopoulosPatricia SimpsonAtossa SoltaniGary Stein & Nancy McCourtElise StengleAnne SudduthErica & Kyle Swantek

Robert SwiatekKatherine SylvesterErin Thompson SwitalskiFrances ThompsonGail M. WaldronLinnea WangVicki WatsonAndrew WelbornKathie WickerJohn WigertJennifer Willmann

DONORS Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a meaningful difference in the success and reach of our work. We are grateful for the following donations received during the 2013 fiscal year. FOUNDATIONSAnonymous (2)As You SowBullitt FoundationCharles Engelhard FoundationCLIF Bar Family FoundationEileen Fisher Environmental Research CenterNew Priorities FoundationSerena Foundation

Seventh Generation FoundationThanksgiving FundThe Park FoundationTurner FoundationWomen’s Wellbeing Fund of RSF Social FinanceUnderdog Fund of the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment

WVE Launches New Campaign: DeTOx The BOxToxic chemicals don’t belong in feminine products. Period.

CleAN Sweep AgAINST CORpORATe gIANTSWVE members win big gains in cleaning and fragrance

Last November, we unveiled our newest and edgiest campaign yet: Detox the Box, aimed at eliminating toxic chemicals from feminine products. We catapulted this issue into the media with the release of our groundbreaking Chem Fatale report, which revealed that hazardous chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive problems, and allergies are commonly used ingredients in products like tampons, pads, wipes, sprays, and douches. The worst part: these harmful chemicals come into contact with some of the most absorptive and sensitive skin on women’s bodies. Find out how you can protect yourself from toxic chemicals in feminine products at www.womensvoices.org/DetoxTheBox.

Telling Tampax and Always to Detox the BoxTrue to WVE style, we decided to target the biggest manufacturers of tampons and pads out there, Tampax and Always, to demand that they make their products safer for the millions of women using them by listing all ingredients and removing toxic chemicals.

We know that no one wants to talk about pads and tampons in polite company, much less about harmful chemicals in those products and what they could be doing to our bodies. We needed a fun way to get this serious message across.

Enter our latest and greatest spoof video.

“Detox the Box” is not only hilarious and catchy (we spoofed Justin Timberlake’s uber-popular Saturday Night Live skit “Dick in a Box”)—it also sends a hard-hitting message to the biggest consumer product company on the planet, Procter & Gamble, that women will no longer stand for toxic chemicals in products we use on some of the most absorptive skin on our bodies. Watch and share “Detox the Box”: www.womensvoices.org/DetoxTheBox.

Talking Tampons in CongressWVE is leading the way in new

research on toxic chemicals in

feminine products, and we’re

taking this issue straight

to the halls of Congress.

We’re a proud supporter of

the Robin Danielson Act,

introduced by Representative

Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

in May. The bill requires

the National Institutes of

Health to conduct research

on the risks posed by the

presence of chemical

fragrances, synthetic fibers,

and chemicals like dioxin in

tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. You can ask your Representative to support the Robin Danielson Act on our website at www.womensvoices.org.

• Walmart announced that they’re banning a list of ten toxic chemicals from all products on their shelves (we haven’t seen the list yet, but we’ll keep you posted) and increasing ingredient transparency in products like cleaners, cosmetics, and personal care products.

• Right on their heels, Target announced a new sustainability policy that will rate products based on whether or not they list all ingredients, use safer chemicals and sustainable packaging, and more.

Women’s Voices for the Earth was born out of the idea that women have tremendous social, political, and economic power to change the systems that allow toxic chemicals into our environment and our bodies. Nowhere has this power been more evident than in the victories won by our members in our Safe Cleaning Products campaign over the last year. ThEsE companiEs

supporT your righT

To knoW WhaT’s in

ThE producTs you usE

in your homE and on

your body!

We believe in giving women solutions to reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals. We also believe in building a green economy built on honesty and trust, and in highlighting those companies that are committed to protecting women’s health. That’s why we launched our No Secrets programs for cleaning and feminine care products. No Secrets is a group of companies that list all ingredients, right down to the fragrance, and have committed to making safer products.

No Secrets COmpANIeS ThAT ACTUAlly CARe ABOUT yOUR heAlThWe’re highlighting companies committed to making safer, transparent products

Check them out at www.womensvoices.org/avoid-toxic-chemicals/no-secrets-safer-products/.

21 BundlesAva Anderson Non-Toxic

Axis Physical TherapyBerkley green

Better Choices - MiessenceCalifornia Baby

Calvert InvestmentsEarth Mama, Angel BabyEstep, Hope, & Weber

good Food Storegreen Blendz

Green Life Consultinggreen maid Today

green woman StoreJust Cleanse

Just the GoodsKelly Teegarden OrganicsKettlehouse Brewing Co.montgomery Distillery

Nova CafePortico Real Estate

Salon FigSelfless Tee

Sweet & woodsy AromatherapyThe green light Apparel & home

The honest CompanyThe Natural Baby Company

Tru KidTrue Goods

Interested in becoming a

Business Partner? email Sara Close,

sarac@womensvoices.org

businEss parTnErswe thank the following companies

who joined us in 2013 for the inaugural year of our

Business Partners Program.

And we’re not just shifting the way

major companies do business. Women’s

economic power convinced two of

the biggest retailers in the country to

make some serious changes:

• Reckitt Benckiser (Airwick, Lysol), Simple Green, and Clorox began revealing allergens in fragrance. These victories represent huge steps forward in breaking the secrecy around fragrance ingredients.

• Procter & Gamble removed the hormone disruptors triclosan and phthalates from its products.

• Reckitt Benckiser removed triclosan from its products.

I’ve been a stylist in New york for over four years.

The first time I ever heard of the Brazilian Blowout, I was in

cosmetology school. The concept sounded so amazing—reduce

your frizz and tame your curls for months after one treatment! The price was exorbitant, but as a curly, frizzy haired girl myself, I understood the high demand.

But the glamour wore off. When me or my coworkers would be doing a Brazilian Blowout on a client, I would get nauseous and dizzy. Other symptoms started to appear, such as rashes, headaches, a sore throat, and watering eyes. It was hard to breathe.After months of doctor visits, I was finally diagnosed with formaldehyde poisoning.

I broke down in tears. I was so angry, upset, and frustrated—that the Brazilian Blowout company had been lying,

that this toxic chemical was in their product, and that I’d been exposed to it without my knowledge or consent.

Since then, I have developed severe chemical sensitivities, commonly known as “MCS.” Small amounts of toxic synthetic chemicals, especially fragrance, in common products make me incredibly sick with symptoms ranging from breathing problems, dizziness, nausea, headaches, fatigue, chest pains, rashes, and memory problems. Sometimes I have to wear a mask on public transportation to protect myself from the perfume, cologne, fabric softener, air fresheners, and other products around me. Since my chemical poisoning I have never felt completely well again and have also developed many allergies and intolerances, particularly to food. My life is drastically different today and everything I consume, purchase or engage in must be carefully thought out.

As a stylist in NYC, it’s really difficult to find a salon that does not use these Brazilian and keratin products. So now I work as a freelance hair stylist, primarily doing hair for photo shoots,

so that I have control of the products I use and am not exposed to dangerous smoothing treatments.

That’s not the only place I’m taking control. I’m raising my voice to take toxic hair straighteners off the market entirely.

Recently, thanks to Women’s Voices for the Earth, I had the opportunity to be a guest on The Dr. Oz Show to talk about the dangers of keratin treatments. The opportunity to represent affected stylists and spread awareness via such a large platform was incredible. From lobbying in Washington, DC, with WVE, blogging about my experiences, joining radio broadcasts with Politics Beauty, and this recent experience of being on television, I hope to protect the health of other consumers and stylists so they are not affected by exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals in salons.

I’m proud to be part of the National Healthy Nail and Beauty Salon Alliance and Women’s Voices for the Earth: I truly see us making a difference.

ACTIONISTA PROFILE | DAwN mARINO

the

voice

Staff

Erin Switalski Executive Director

Jean Claire Duncan Director of Finance & Administration

Jamie McConnellDirector of Programs & Policy

alexandra ScrantonDirector of Science & Research

Cassidy Randall Director of Outreach & Engagement

Sara Close Director of Development

Britta Bloedorn Program Associate

BoaRD of DiRECtoRS

ann BlakeAlameda, California

allison Chin Leesburg, Virginia

ogonnaya Dotson-Newman New York, New York

Betsy HandsOak Park, Illinois

anuja Mendiratta M.E.S, Berkeley, California

Marya torrez Washington, DC

annie Watson Missoula, Montana

Jessica Welborn Missoula, Montana

SCiENCE aDviSoRy BoaRD

Irene Erdelmeier, PhDHead of Chemistry, Tetrahedron

Steven G. Gilbert , PhD, DABTExecutive Director, INND (Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders)

Patricia Hunt, PhDMeyer Distinguished Professor, Washington State University

Sarah Janssen MD, PhD, MPHAssistant Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco

Amy D Kyle PhD, MPH Associate Professor, University of California, Berkeley

Ruthann RudelDirector of Research, Silent Spring Institute

Ted Schettler, MD, MPHScience Director, Science and Environmental Health Network

Megan Schwarzman, MD, MPHEnvironmental Health Scientist, UC Berkeley, and Associate Physician, UCSF

Dr. Anne SteinemannProfessor of Civil Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Ami Zota, ScD, MSAssistant Professor, George Washington University Milken School of Public Health

fiSCal yEaR 2013 fiNaNCialS

• Tips to Avoid Toxic Chemicals Before, During, and After Pregnancy

• Baby Non-Toxic Shopping Guide

• Hair Straightening Products Containing Formaldehyde

• Toxic Chemicals in Salon Products: What Salon Customers Need to Know

• Cosmetics Companies Hiding Toxic Chemicals

top NEW RESouRCES foR avoiDiNg toxiC CHEMiCalS

find them at WWW.WoMENSvoiCES.oRg/avoiD-toxiC-CHEMiCalS

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