THE WINNING PROGRAM

Levi Strauss & Co. has been actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic. As early as 1982, Levi Strauss' employees and executives started a grassroots educational effort that would quickly evolve into the first major corporate HIV/AIDS prevention initiative.

Today, Levi Strauss is extending comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment and care-including access to antiretroviral medication, counseling, preventive care, and education-to all Levi Strauss employees and their families worldwide. Through a Clinton Global Initiative commitment made in 2006, Levi Strauss is the first apparel company to provide such a global comprehensive program. In countries where access to testing, treatment, and care is not adequately provided
through private health benefits or the national public health system, the program reimburses employees for HIV/AIDS-related services through a global reimbursement mechanism with a third party vendor that has been designed to ensure confidentiality and ease of use for its workforce. The company is also extending its reach by supporting workplace programs for workers and suppliers in countries such as China, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho and Mexico.

Consistently on the cutting edge of trends in business action, in 1991 Levi Strauss became the first multinational apparel company to establish a comprehensive ethical code of conduct for suppliers. The guidelines emphasize human rights, non-discrimination, health and safety for factory workers. In 2003, the company included additional guidance to prohibit discrimination for HIV status. More recently, that innovative spirit was seen as the company was part of a collaboration to found ALAFA - (Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS), a first-of-its-kind NGO whose model to comprehensively address HIV/AIDS in factory settings is quickly becoming a best practice in supply chain engagement.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Deep Employee Engagement
As early as 1982, Levi Strauss employees formed a community involvement team (the AIDS Action Group) in San Francisco to address employee interest in HIV/AIDS issues. Employees have maintained a sustained commitment each year supporting projects such as the San Francisco AIDS Walk and fundraising efforts for local AIDS service organizations, Community Days and World AIDS Day commemorations. Last year alone the AIDS Action Group raised more than $100,000 for local HIV/AIDS non-profits.

The company continues to update and refresh its employee engagement approach. To commemorate World AIDS Day 2008, the company utilized digital media to roll out an interactive website that tests employee knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Upon completion of the quiz, employees are directed to links offering additional resources and education.

Extensive Strategic Collaboration
Throughout its more than 25-year commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS, Levi Strauss has engaged numerous partners around the world -ranging from business coalitions and global advocacy organizations, to smaller grassroots NGOs. Since 1982, the company has contributed more than $40 million to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that promote HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs.

In 2008, the company was commended by GBC for its partnership in China, which extended HIV and health education to 850,000 migrant women workers. The collaboration with the Levi Strauss Foundation and the Asia Foundation integrated HIV into a holistic package of programs involving health education, legal services, and counseling.

In the innovative Red for Life campaign in South Africa, the company created partnerships with local NGOs and community stakeholders to co-brand mobile units that deliver voluntary counseling and testing. Since its inception, more than 80,000 people in South Africa have been tested through the program.

In another U.S. strategic partnership, the Levi Strauss Foundation joined Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and the City of Oakland in the 2007 launch of "Get Testing Oakland"-a public-private collaboration to encourage the public to test their HIV status. This program builds upon the 2004 launch of the Syringe Access Fund, a multi-year initiative between the Levi Strauss Foundation, the Tides Foundation and the National AIDS Fund to increase support to programs that make sterile syringes available in the fight against HIV/AIDS.