By Kim Yoo-chul
The Levi Strauss Foundation is planning to increase its budget for distinguished financial programs in South Korea as part of its decades-long anti-AIDS initiatives, a senior executive from the organization said.
The plan comes after Levi Strauss has seen growth here, by sticking to its “profits-through-principles” business approach.
AIDS is now considered a long-term illness rather than a fatal disease thanks to the steady development of advancements such as multidrug-cocktail therapies, which have become standard treatments for those infected with HIV.
But the U.S.-based foundation still hopes to create a stronger national network as part of its strategy to boost AIDS awareness, said Daniel Lee, an executive director of the Levi Strauss Foundation, in an interview Tuesday.
“We have a plan to increase our annual budget for financial programs to South Koreans suffering from AIDS,” said the executive.
In the last 15 years, the foundation has spent over $700,000 in grants in South Korea, which Levi Strauss officials say is “quite sizable.”
Lee added the updated plan is also part of its efforts to strengthen corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in this fashion-savvy country. South Korea is a strategic spot for Levi Strauss.
The Levi Strauss Foundation has been running such grant programs in areas aimed to extend financial services to the poor, prevent the spread of AIDS and improve the working standards of garment workers.
The foundation was credited with advancing human rights by taking risks, supporting community partnerships and even promoting good corporate citizenship.
Lee was in Busan, South Korea’s biggest port city, to participate in the 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) from August 26 to 30 at the BEXCO convention center in the southern city.
“It’s crucial to boost awareness about the AIDS epidemic in some Asian countries and what private foundations and companies can do to help make a difference in handling the disease,’’ Lee said.
Although the number of AIDS fatalities in Korea has decreased since 2005 in South Korea, the number of new HIV cases has remained at about 700 patients a year since 2006, according to data from health authorities.
Since 1985, a total of 7,656 people have been infected by the virus, and 1,364 have died from it.
“Hopefully, the event could serve as a bridge to further boost public policy advocacy, basic human rights and spreading the word about the importance of activism on this issue,” said Lee.
He said the foundation has plans to put more focus on so-called “eco-friendly activities,” and Lee said another part of the plan is to support the health of workers who make its Levi Strauss-branded products, such as jeans in factories.
Lee said the Levi Strauss Foundation’s Worker Rights Grant Programs currently reach some 300,000 apparel and textile workers annually in 15 countries.
“Levi Strauss is vowing to continue work with other companies across the apparel industry to encourage them to think as much about how they impact people and the planet as much as they do about the latest fashion,’’ he said, adding that profits-through-principles approaches will be a lucrative business model here.