Today makeup artists from M.A.C Cosmetics in Toronto will put away their makeup kits and don red ribbons to participate in a company-wide volunteer effort to honor World AIDS Day. This initiative is part of a worldwide effort involving more than 1,400 M.A.C employees in 120 North American cities and 30 countries. The day’s activities underscore the company’s longstanding commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS and strengthen the artists’ relationship with the brand’s philanthropic foundation, the M.A.C AIDS Fund, and its many grantees.

“Volunteering on World AIDS Day has been such an inspiring experience. It is amazing to see the impact that VIVA GLAM Lipsticks have on so many individuals around the world. The global work of the M.A.C AIDS Fund gives me a feeling of great pride in working for M.A.C.,” said Gordon Espinet, vice president of makeup artistry, M.A.C Cosmetics.

M.A.C artists from the Toronto area are donating their time and skills to Fife House and Casey House, two local organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of area residents affected by HIV/AIDS. At Fife House, an organization that provides affordable housing and housing support services for Toronto-based families living with HIV/AIDS, M.A.C volunteers will provide makeup applications, techniques and skin care tips to residents at two separate locations. Since 2000, the M.A.C AIDS Fund has supported Fife House with more than $798,000 in grants.

At Casey House, a specialty hospital that provides treatment, support and palliative care for people affected by HIV/AIDS, M.A.C volunteers will be greeters, candle distributors, hosts and talent assistants for Voices of Hope, the organization’s annual World AIDS Day concert. Collectively, more than 25 M.A.C makeup artists and M.A.C corporate staff in Toronto will participate in the events with Fife House and Casey House on World AIDS Day.

These World AIDS Day initiatives are just a few ways M.A.C celebrates its commitment to the cause. Every day is World AIDS Day at M.A.C, where 100 percent of the sales price of M.A.C’s VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass goes directly to the M.A.C AIDS Fund, benefiting grantees in more than 67 countries. To date, the company has donated more than $190 million to fight HIV/AIDS.

“The fact that the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS are improved every time a makeup artist sells a VIVA GLAM product has always been a great source of pride at M.A.C,” said Nancy Mahon, senior vice president, M.A.C Cosmetics and global executive director of the M.A.C AIDS Fund. “The M.A.C AIDS Fund is truly the heart and soul of our company – there is commitment to the cause at every level. Our deep tie to the Fund creates a great camaraderie and bond among our employees, which in turn contributes to the fact that M.A.C has a higher retention rate than other brands. It is wonderful to see the employees unite time and again on such an important day and lend their time to support the global fight against HIV/AIDS.”

All over the globe, M.A.C employees are giving back in a variety of ways. In India, artists will pair up with the women of Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE) and assist them with preparing and selling food items from carts in the streets of Chennai. In Munich, Germany, artists will support the Muenchner AIDS-Hilfe e.V. by selling teddy bears to pedestrians in order to collect money for HIV-infected people. M.A.C volunteers in Chile will partner with the Santa Clara Foundation and spend the evening with kids playing, cooking a meal and helping to do house repairs. Other participating M.A.C affiliates are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, TR-Bali, UK and Venezuela.