Guess where I've been. . .
A rave? My 8-year-old cousin's birthday party? Shopping at the 99 Cent Store?
WRONG! (Imagine sound of game-show buzzer here)
I was fortunate enough to travel to Hawaii with some other (RED) team members to attend the final date of U2's Vertigo Tour. I had read about the wonderful efforts of Hans, Tina and thousands of other (RED) friends who were coordinating the masses to turn the Aloha Stadium (RED). Although I knew what they had planned, I never imagined that it would be THAT (RED).
There were literally thousands of people wearing (RED). Those who didn't have (RED) items - due to limited availability in their hometown - wore the color red. Everything from santa hats, to jumpsuits, to paint and even an Elmo doll... people were (RED). When the lights went down and U2 took the stage, the stadium lit up with red glowsticks and balloons. You can see some of it in the video posted at the bottom of this entry. There's an article posted about the show, including some photos of our (RED) friends here. It was one of those moments when you looked around and knew you were not alone -- there are a lot of people like us out there and when we all come together anything is possible.
I was so moved by it all that I ran to the floor between sets to meet as many (RED) people as I could. You are some of the most wonderful, spirited, genuine people I've ever met. Most of the (RED) people actually made it into the ellipse area which means they camped outside the stadium for 2-3 days in order to get into this intimate section right in front of the stage. After negotiating (literally) my way to the front, I got to meet Hans. Although he took the initiative to turn the stadium (RED), I'm not sure he ever got to see the full effect since he was right in front, pressed up against the rail. I was also lucky enough to meet Tina, Germana, and Sammi. Hans has a lot of energy - after the concert Saturday night, he was getting up (or staying up) to run the Honolulu Marathon on Sunday. I haven't heard from him since, so I hope he's ok! Thank you, Hans - you are now one of our top MySpace friends and will always be one of our best (RED) friends.
When I got back from Hawaii I learned about something else spectacular. To mark World AIDS Day, 1 December, a group of students from Kingston University's Graphic Design course were set a brief to raise awareness about (PRODUCT) RED, these clever videos are the result and have been posted in YouTube as video responses to the videos on our (RED) Channel.
You can view their entire channel and additional videos here: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=OneREDday
(Feel free to take a coffee break if you need it - this is going to be a long entry.)
Another EMPOWE(RED) Moment
Along with her mother and daughter, Donna Garske participated in Oprah's Favorite Giveaway. The audience was given $1000.00 each to use to get things for strangers. Donna and her family did "the (RED) thing" and purchased $3000.00 worth of Product (RED) clothing from the GAP and donated it to the Dallas International Street Church in Dallas TX. You can watch a video clip here.
(RED) For The Holidays
A few weeks ago we asked if any of you would like to help us create (RED) holiday cards. We received some wonderful submissions and have turned them into eCards so that they can be sent to all of our friends and family! If you'd like to send (RED) eCards to your friends, click here. Thank you for helping us turn the holidays (RED).
More MEASU(RED) Results
We have some updated results to share with you. (RED) sales in the U.S. in the first six weeks since launch have raised enough money to:
- Provide more than 40,000 people with ARV treatment for a year (Note: These treatments are only a small portion of a person's overall treatment and represent just one year of lifelong treatment.)
- Or provide more than 2 million peer educators with HIV training
- Or provide a year's worth of school materials and daily hot meals for more than 86,000 children orphaned by AIDS
- Or provide more than 1 million Rapid Tests which detect HIV and deliver instant test results.
*Note: These are estimates based on preliminary tracking. Actual contributions are calculated and managed on a quarterly basis.
Watch clips from the U2 show in Honolulu:
Keep an eye out for all the (RED) - especially the balloons! Click here and then be sure to click the link that says "A Few Clips from Saturday's U2 Concert."
Talk to you soon,
Colette
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7 comments:
So glad to see how well the Inspi(red) night at Aloha Stadium worked out! Kudos to Hans, Tina, Germana, Sammi and everyone else who worked so hard to get the word out. Great job!
Thank you so much, Colette, for your very informative and inspi-(red) post!
There was so much good info in your post that I don't know where to start. (smile)
First, thanks for the links once more for the (RED) channel and the YouTube links - I have been so busy in my own community organizing around Africa that I don't get so much time at the computer, but I'll definitely check the (RED) channel out over the Holidays.
Second, THANK YOU for the (RED) ecards! They are ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL and will DEFINITELY BE USED BY ME as I send out my holiday ecards this year!
This is such a BRILLIANT IDEA, Colette - have y'all thought about starting (RED) ecards for other occasions? (like b-days, thank you's,congrats, etc.) I think they would be a BIG SUCCESS.
And then there is the GOOD NEWS at how much has already been done for the Global Fund by the sale of (RED) products in the U.S.! That news really gladdened my (RED) heart.
Thank you, Colette, for all this info and for all this encouraging news.
I look forward to hearing MORE good news about (RED) in the near future.
Take very good care of yourselves, my dear (RED) friends. Blessings surround you always.
I AM....ALWAYS (RED) AT HEART, debbie
what a night! many of us are still basking in the glow of this amazing experience. everything once we got in the stadium was just perfect. i was asked to bring a picture or two over, i will figure how to post them shortly! =)
was sweet of you to come down and meet us colette. a message this morning indicated that we're not used to having our efforts acknowledged, and that's okay, but these expressions of kindness and validation here made many of our spirits soar. fandom and wardrobe and rallying that night was one thing, but to have your report include the practical application of the sales of the products, that's what it's all about, and that's where our hearts are.
thanx for (red). for this moment in time it developed a community of like/minded fans/activists who not only had the times of our lives but who felt like we made a difference.
stay close . . . be sure we will!
sammi f(red)enburg
Hola!
I would like to thank Colette and the (RED) folks for their kindness in acknowledging the efforts of Hans, Germana, Tina, Sammi and the other Zootopians and fellow U2 fans that helped turn the night (RED).
Although I know that it is incredible what we can accomplish when it doesnt matter who takes the credit, it is nice to see the efforts of this small and committed group put to light.
I can't wait to see what we do not only at the next U2 tour, but in the immediate future.
Baja
Dear Colette,
I read your blog entry with a huge smile on my face :-) It was so nice of you to come down to the front row of the GA field to search for us, with your kind words of appreciation for the "INSPI(RED) night at the Aloha Stadium" initiative.
Germana and I came home just few days ago from the trip to Hawaii, and we're still overwhelmed with the fantastic concert night. I'm looking forward to see more pictures taken of the GA field, to see the huge number of (RED) people in the crowd :)
It was so much fun, and inspiring, to organize this event. We had no idea how many people would respond to this idea, but the days leading up to the show we had some indications that this was going to work out. When we commented the event to other U2 fans in Honolulu the days before the show, most already knew about it, and had prepared (RED) clothing. Some days before the show we met a local U2 fan at a shopping mall who had just found our web site, and he carried his bag with a (RED) shirt. But the day of the show, when we saw all the (RED) in the GA line we knew for sure that something special was happening.
We are so happy that we could help to spread the word about (RED). It is a wonderful idea that will help so many people who live in less fortunate circumstances. Thank you so much, all the ones who are involved in (RED).
If we can ever help out in any way, just let us know. It is the (RED) thing to do :)
Thank you, Colette,
Hans
http://www.geocities.com/onehonolulu
http://www.myspace.com/hans444
Congratulations to all of you for doing such a great job empowering (RED) across the globe. Not only on this post, but everything else that was posted in the last weeks.
I am so happy and proud to be part of it somehow and I wish so badly that I was at the Aloha Stadium, but I couldn't. I am glad you guys did!
Beautiful! And Colette, thank you for sharing it all with us, I haven't have time to leave comments, but I check the blog everyday to be updated and it is always great to read your posts.
I just wish GAP would have more products available online, it seems that it is taking so long to have the items back in stock.
dear Colette,
What can I add to what's already been said. Nothing much except THANK YOU so much for the effort you took to find us on the floor !! That was an amazingly kind thing to do.
I live in Belgium, not too much (RED) activity here ... yet ? But if I can give a hand, I surely will.
Mahalo
Tina
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