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PERELMAN’S REVLON CHARITY CHANNEL

I recently asked Ronald Perelman why Revlon abandoned the cosmetic industry’s charitable channel. Specific reference was to Revlon’s failure to join the March of Dimes Beauty Ball.

His explanation was that only a few pennies of every dollar donated to the Beauty Ball goes to the beneficiaries. Perelman stated that he prefers to give directly to those beneficiaries conducting the research or performing the actual services. He also said that he did not want to be financing the executive and management salaries and other costs of the charities.

He did not give any specific example of his actions, or explain how the treatment programs created to assist and prevent medical conditions occurring from prenatal birth could have become the reality without the March of Dimes’ staff and organization.

The Revlon company that Charles Revson created and that Paul Woolard managed and grew to its heights supported the creation and growth of the March of Dimes programs. In 1992, Revlon, under Ronald Perelman’s control, was the corporate honoree of the Beautiful Apple award. Revlon, which has hit its depths in the last decade, has abandoned the cosmetic industry’s effort for the last few years.

Charles Revson’s Revlon is now Ronald Perelman’s Perelon.

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