E. In-Kind Giving

Companies can give much more than money to HIV/AIDS programmes. For instance, the Avon Company printed HIV/AIDS information on some of its cosmetics packaging. Thai banks put similar information on account receipts from automatic teller machines. Apple Computers have donated close to US$ 1 million’s worth of computer equipment to HIV/AIDS agencies in the US. The Polaroid company offers its in-house employee AIDS awareness programmes to local community groups, schools and churches, and additionally provides its own literature for use as well. In Brazil, several companies including Coca-Cola, Souza Cruz, Banco Itau and the Brazil Federation of Banks donated their advertising agencies' time to help the national HIV/STD Control Programme develop its countrywide mass-media campaign.

This type of "non-cash" support can be invaluable to AIDS causes. It may also cost the company very little in time and effort.

The cases cited above show how companies can benefit local and national HIV/AIDS agencies and projects. Some leading international companies have also helped international agencies concerned with HIV/AIDS. For example:

· IBM has donated US$ 1.5 million's worth of equipment, software and support service to the WHO's Global Programme on AIDS, to speed the agency's information gathering and communication between headquarters, regional offices and other agencies around the world.

· The Digital Equipment Corporation has also supported WHO with a donation of equipment worth US$ 600,000 to help with information collection and management.

· AT&T, the US long-distance phone company with an excellent record of local support for HIV/AIDS causes, has also supported a global networking initiative among AIDS research centres worldwide, providing equipment and videoconferencing capacity to improve the centres' communication. The company has donated US$ 1.5 million in cash and in-kind help.