PRNewswire - November 24, 2003

NEW YORK, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- On World AIDS Day, Monday, December 1, 2003, 100 celebrities in 20 U.S. locations, five Canadian locations, and 10 other international locations will donate an hour of their time to support the MAC AIDS Fund (MAF) to raise money for men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. MAF is working in conjunction with UNICEF, The Global Health Council, and The United Nations Development Programme on a worldwide effort to raise $1 million in December. Among those set to appear at a MAC store to help reach that goal: cast members of NBC's "American Dreams" and "Days of Our Lives," CBS' "Guiding Light," and stars Bebe Neuwirth, David Hasselhoff, Miss USA Susie Castillo, Peggy Fleming, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Cassandra Wilson, Rita Rudner, Jully Black, Donna Clark, The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the Toronto Raptors Dance Team and local news anchors and radio personalities across North America.

Stars will sign autographs at each location for one hour throughout the day (store hours vary), focusing on MAC VIVA GLAM lipstick, Kids Helping Kids cards, and MAC's "Book of Cards." Every cent of sales from VIVA GLAM and Kids Helping Kids cards goes directly to those in need:

* To financially sustain MAF funding, MAC introduced its first VIVA GLAM lipstick in 1994. Today there are four shades ($14.00 U.S./$15.50 CDN). Fourteen dollars can buy one month of food, shelter and basic care and schooling for a child orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

* On World AIDS Day, a VIVA GLAM QUAD will be introduced: four VG shades in one compact ($28.00 U.S./$36.00 CDN). Twenty-eight dollars can provide groceries for three people living with HIV/AIDS in North America for one week.

* In addition to VIVA GLAM, MAF raises money through the sale of Kids Helping Kids holiday cards ($6.00 U.S./$7.00 CDN for six cards), designed by children with HIV/AIDS. Six dollars pays for dozens of educational booklets in North America on HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as nutrition guides for those living with HIV/AIDS.

* Another MAF fundraiser is the new "Book of Cards" ($28.00 U.S./$36.00 CDN), a provocative "deck of cards" in a coffee table book published by Assouline. Fifty-four celebrities dreamed up designs for naked bodies, and MAC makeup artists interpreted the creations on actual bodies of all shapes and sizes, featured in the book. A percentage of book sales goes to MAF. Twenty-eight dollars provides 300 condoms for street youth outreach.

According to John Demsey, Chairman of MAF and President of MAC, "The support we have received has been incredible. We know that an enormous number of celebrities are devoted MAC cosmetics customers, but to see the outpouring for the MAC AIDS Fund warms our hearts. Our goal for December is to raise $1 million for those affected with HIV/AIDS, and I believe this can happen with the generous help of public figures donating time to appear at MAC stores on World AIDS Day."

Celebrities will be in 25 North American locations including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, NYC, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington DC. The unprecedented event will also scale the globe, with stars appearing at MAC stores in Singapore, Australia, Canada, The U.K., Netherlands, Denmark, Korea and Switzerland. (For the complete international star schedule visit http://www.macaidsfund.org.)

Lilia Garcia-Leyva, MAF Executive Director, said, "The statistics on HIV/AIDS remain staggering. People can really make a difference by buying even just one lipstick. Anyone can help, even if they don't live near a MAC store because these items are also available online. The purchase is equivalent to making a direct donation to help those in need."

MAF, the heart and soul of MAC cosmetics, was established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally. MAF gives money to fund education, awareness and prevention programs world-wide and provides financial support to over 400 organizations serving those with HIV/AIDS and marginalized populations at a high risk of infection. The money goes to providing food, medicine, health care, housing, hospice care, emergency funds and counseling. To date MAF has raised over $31 million (U.S.).

MAC (Make-up Art Cosmetics), the leading brand of professional cosmetics, was created in Toronto, Canada in 1985 and is now part of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. MAC'S popularity has grown through a tradition of word-of-mouth endorsement from makeup artists, models, photographers and journalists around the world. MAC is sold in over 46 countries worldwide. (http://www.maccosmetics.com)

SOURCE MAC AIDS Fund

Web Site: http://www.maccosmetics.com

http://www.macaidsfund.org

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