Keeping true to the company’s long-standing dedication to HIV and AIDS, on Friday 27 November 45 makeup artists from M•A•C Cosmetics stores across New Zealand will roll up their sleeves and take off their brush belts to participate in volunteer efforts in a company-wide effort to commemorate World AIDS Day.

M•A•C artists from 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.

“Volunteering and giving back to the HIV and AIDS community has always been a source of pride at M•A•C,” says Amber D, Senior Artist, M•A•C New Zealand. “The company-wide volunteer initiative is allowing us to match our everyday fundraising through the sale of our Viva Glam products, which benefit HIV and AIDS programs, with hands-on work at organizations in our community that are making a difference.”

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.

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.

One hundred percent of the selling price of M•A•C’s Viva Glam line of lip products goes directly to the M•A•C AIDS Fund to benefit grantees. To date, the company has raised and given away more than $150 million (USD) to fight HIV and AIDS.  Locally, M•A•C has raised over $850,000 (NZD) for the M•A•C AIDS Fund and has donated the majority of those funds to New Zealand organizations fighting the epidemic here in New Zealand.