LONDON, November 25, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Today makeup artists from M.A.C Cosmetics in London, Edinburgh and Dublin 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-part of a worldwide effort involving more than 1,400 M A C employees in 120 North American cities and 30 countries-is organized to demonstrate the company's longstanding commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS and strengthens the artists' relationship with the brand's philanthropic foundation, the M.A.C AIDS Fund (MAF), and its many grantees.

M.A.C artists from London and Edinburgh will pitch in to help at London's Positive East and Edinburgh's Waverley Care and give up some of their free time to decorate nominated service areas and meeting rooms which are frequently used by visitors to both Charities. The M.A.C Aids Fund has supported Positive East since 2006 and Edinburgh's Waverley Care for over 10 years.

To raise awareness on World Aids Day in Dublin, M.A.C Friends and Colleagues are joining the Open Heart House charity "Sleep Out". This will be the inaugural Open Heart House "Sleep Out" and it is a great way for M.A.C to develop the support it has given to this charity since January 2000.

MAF has donated a combined total of over GBP230,000 to these three charities for various projects.

"One of the main reasons I love working at M.A.C is because of VIVA GLAM and all the good work the M.A.C AIDS Fund does in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The experience of volunteering with my fellow artists on World AIDS Day is inspiring and a real way for me to give back," said Neil Young, M.A.C Senior Artist.

One hundred percent of the sales price (minus the VAT) of M.A.C VIVA GLAM Lipsticks and Lipglasses goes directly to the M A C AIDS Fund benefiting grantees in more than 30 countries. To date, the company has donated more than $190 million to help those affected by 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 comradery 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 company 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 Münchner AIDS-Hilfe e.V. by selling teddy bears to pedestrians in order to collect money for HIV infected people. M.A.C volunteers in Toronto will partner with the Fife House providing makeup applications, techniques and skin care tips to the residents, all of whom are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. 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.

About The M.A.C AIDS Fund

The M.A.C AIDS Fund, the heart and soul of M.A.C Cosmetics, was established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally. MAF is a pioneer in HIV/AIDS funding, providing financial support to organizations working with underserved regions and populations. As the largest corporate non-pharmaceutical giver in the arena, MAF is committed to addressing the link between poverty and HIV/AIDS by supporting diverse organizations around the world that provide a wide range of services to people living with HIV/AIDS. To date, MAF has raised over $190 million (U.S.) exclusively through the sale of M.A.C 's VIVA GLAM lipstick and lipglass, donating 100 percent of the sale price (minus the VAT) to fight HIV/AIDS. For more information, visit http://www.macaidsfund.org.

About Positive East - London

Our aim is to create a safe environment for people to come and receive peer and professional support. Central to all our services is the principle of self empowerment i.e. people, where ever possible, should be independent and in control of their lives. To help maintain independence and not create dependence. Our services are set up to work with people to encourage them to achieve this.

Mission - "To improve the physical, economical, emotional and psychological quality of life for individuals and communities affected by HIV across East London." With services delivered across two centres, Stratford and Stepney as well as from our outreach venues, our goal is to maintain the provision of a high quality standard service, providing a flexibility of approach to meet the requirements of our uses.

About Waverley Care - Edinburgh Waverley Care was established in 1989. Since then we have constantly adapted and responded to the changing face of HIV, incorporated Hepatitis C into our work and developed new areas of focus.

Our key objectives are:

- To promote the welfare of people with HIV and similar conditions and those affected by them. - To provide care and assistance. - To advance education and understanding of these conditions and their prevention.

We do this with the aim of ensuring that people living with HIV or Hepatitis C are able to live full and fulfilling lives within their communities.

About Open Heart House - Dublin

Open Heart House was established in 1997 and is a member led organization and is the only voluntary agency of its kind in Ireland.

It's mission is to empower and enhance the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. Open Heart House is a centre of warmth, welcome and acceptance, which actively embraces and supports people living with HIV&AIDS. Open Heart House challenges the social stigma of HIV and AIDS through the provision of a range of facilities and services for its HIV positive membership in a confidential, safe supportive environment. The range of services provided is for people living with and affected by the virus regardless of race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender or disability status.

SOURCE: M.A.C Cosmetics

CONTACT: Contact: Ruth Wiles - Senior Director UK Global Communications &EMEA Fashion Relations, rwiles@mac-cosmetics.co.uk, +44(0)870-034-6858,Jane Walsh - M.A.C Communications Manager, jwalsh@mac-cosmetics.co.uk,+44(0)870-034-6514