M•A•C giving back for World AIDS Day

Long before it was de rigeur to do so, make up giant M•A•C were heavily involved in the fight against AIDS, through the sale of their Viva Glam lipsticks and other less high profile support. Each year their global team also give time to the cause, starting this year on Friday, November 27. Here in New Zealand, a local volunteer team of 45 is part of the worldwide global initiative of nearly 1,000 M•A•C employees in 23 countries who will be rolling up their sleeves and taking off their brush belts to participate in volunteer efforts in a company-wide effort to commemorate World AIDS Day. The volunteer initiative—part of a worldwide effort including nearly 1000 M•A•C employees in 56 North American cities and 23 countries—is being organized to complement the artists’ commitment to the global fight against HIV and AIDS and to strengthen their connection to the company’s philanthropic arm the M•A•C AIDS Fund and its grantees. M•A•C artists here in New Zealand will donate their time by partnering with the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) and hitting the streets of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch collecting donations by selling the iconic Red Ribbon. All donations will go to the Wellness Fund, which can be accessed by several HIV support groups in New Zealand to support men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS. The Wellness Fund Red Ribbon collection buckets will remain on all New Zealand M•A•C counters from Friday 27th November until Wednesday 2nd December 2009, so get in there and give PLENTY!
In addition to the volunteer initiative, M•A•C will mark World AIDS Day on December 1st by presenting a cheque at their flagship Chancery store for $21,000NZD to Body Positive to support their free rapid HIV testing campaign ‘Take Control. Take the Test’ to encourage those who are sexually active to get tested. Well known New Zealand personalities will also be volunteering their time on December 1st World AIDS Day by working in M•A•C’s Chancery store to help raise funds for the Red Ribbon collection buckets as well as selling M•A•C’s Viva Glam lipsticks and lip glasses.