Kenneth Cole continues fight against AIDS with End AIDS Coalition

By

Emily Jensen

Published
Jul 27, 2017

On Tuesday, the shoe designer announced the creation of the new End AIDS Coalition at the International AIDS Conference on HIV Science in Paris. The Coalition will bring together global leaders in the fight against AIDS.

 
Kenneth Cole has been a longtime activist in the fight against AIDS, having launched the first AIDS PSA in 1985. The American shoe designer currently serves as chairman of the board for amfAR, a position he has held since 2004, and is a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador. His newest project brings together international scientists, policy-makers and more in the global fight against AIDS.
 
Joining the new End AIDS Coalition are the likes of amfAR, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the MAC AIDS Fund, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The EAC’s mission statement outlines its goal as working to “accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS 2016 Political Declaration to end AIDS by 2030 with increased collaboration, transparency and accountability.”  

Cole says the idea for the EAC came about when he was asked to become a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador last year and saw that organizations such as amfAR and UNAIDS would not be able to reach their goals without working together.
 
Cole has been one of fashion community’s most visible activists in the fight to end AIDS. In June of this year, he was awarded the CFDA Award for Positive Change.