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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
10.13.2006 - 11:50am ET
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Gap (PRODUCT) RED Showcases Company's Ongoing Commitment to Social Responsibility
Product to Help Fight AIDS in Africa
(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO - Today's launch of the Gap (PRODUCT) RED collection
in Gap stores around the world is the company's latest initiative to build
on its long-term commitment to social responsibility. Gap will contribute
one-half of the profits from the sale of the Gap (PRODUCT) RED line to the
Global Fund to help women and children affected by AIDS in Africa.
Over the past decade, Gap Inc. has established a strong track record of
investing in economic development opportunities in Africa. The commitment
will continue by producing some of the (RED) collection there.
(PRODUCT) RED is an innovative business model created by Bono, U2 singer
and activist, and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade,
Africa) to engage the private sector in the fight against AIDS in Africa.
The initiative is designed as a new way of doing business that is both
socially responsible and profitable.
"We hope that when given a choice, consumers will buy products that have a
positive impact on the world," said Dan Henkle, senior vice president of
Social Responsibility for Gap Inc. "If this model succeeds, it has the
potential to transform business and philanthropy across the globe."
Added Henkle, "Gap has been sourcing products from Africa for the past
decade. (PRODUCT) RED allows us to offer our customers great products,
which also contribute to economic development through jobs and investment
in the health of garment workers."
Much of Gap Inc.'s community investment efforts in Africa have been in
Lesotho, a key sourcing market for the company. The garment manufacturing
industry is the top employer in the country and has been hit hard by the
AIDS pandemic. It is estimated that as many as one in three garment
workers in Lesotho are infected. Below are examples of some of the
programs Gap Inc. has been involved in to address the health and
well-being of the African communities in which the company does
business.
CARE: Gap Inc. has partnered with CARE to fund the Private Sector
Coalition against HIV/AIDS (PSCAAL) to develop training and educational
materials for factory workers.
ALAFA: Gap Inc. supports ComMark Trusts' recently launched Apparel
Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS (ALAFA) pilot project to provide education,
testing and treatment for factory workers.
MFA Forum: Gap Inc. is working to help Lesotho remain competitive by
collaborating with other companies, government officials, trade unions,
manufacturers, and non-governmental organizations through the MFA Forum.
Together they are developing a national strategy to support the textile
and garment industry in Lesotho to encourage the industry to attract new
business.
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer offering clothing,
accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies
under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Forth & Towne brand names.
Fiscal 2005 sales were $16.0 billion. Gap Inc. operates about 3,000 stores
in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Ireland and
Japan. For more information, please visit
gapinc.com.
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