Tamsin's remarks at the Global Fund's Donor Pledging Conference

Tamsin spoke today at the Global Fund’s Donor Pledging Conference in Berlin, where donor countries pledged $10 billion over the next three years to help fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. She explained to these government officials how (RED) works and our results to date, giving them an idea of how individuals can also help fund the Global Fund’s tremendous work.

Here are Tamsin’s remarks as prepared:

I am humbled to sit amongst such a distinguished group, and honored to speak on behalf of (RED). In representing (RED), I hope to convey in person the commitment of many who are present here only in spirit. Among these are: (RED) founders Bono and Bobby Shriver; (RED) product partners Apple, American Express, Converse, Gap, Giorgio Armani, and Motorola; (RED) shoppers around the world; and the (RED) stakeholders in Africa, who are alive today because of (RED) shoppers and the catalytic impact of the Global Fund.

The concept of (RED) was launched in January 2006, with the simple idea of engaging global companies to focus their creative genius on designing and marketing special (RED) product lines, which would share up to half the profit on sales with the Global Fund. The Global Fund targets 100 percent of these (RED)-generated funds to help HIV-impacted people in Africa. The first recipient countries are Rwanda, Swaziland and Ghana – chosen for their records of performance and intensity of need.

In engaging private sector partners to bring the (RED) idea to life, we asked the selected companies to make multiyear commitments to ensure that this would be a serious, sustained effort. From the beginning, we worked to ensure that (RED) would not become a short-lived promotion. Awareness is important, but money is essential, and we were determined to make a material difference in helping the Global Fund tap the resources of the private sector.

We could not have projected then what a year plus would yield, but I can say now that we are very pleased with results to date. Since the first items when on sale in March of 2006, (RED) has infused the Global Fund with an additional $45 million.

What can we expect in the next three years? The future of (RED) has many authors. We must continue to bring on smart, strategic, committed companies to invent still more compelling (RED) offerings. Additionally, we must continue spreading understanding of and excitement about (RED) – its value proposition and the impact it’s having on (RED) shareholders in Africa – so that more and more shoppers around the world choose (RED) over non-(RED).

To this end, I can tell you we believe we are on the crest of a powerful wave of consumer engagement. Here I mean both marketplace consumers and consumers of information in the marketplace of ideas. Historically governments and civil society organizations have carried the water on funding and administering public health programs. That is appropriate and critically necessary. However, too few regular, everyday people out there really felt connected to what their taxes or donations were supporting. (RED) opens the window and lets them in – to see and feel and directly participate in the incredible challenge of eradicating a treatable, preventable disease.

This is power. It is a power that benefits governments, individuals and institutions like the Global Fund. I cannot tell you today how far beyond $45 million the (RED) revenue stream will stretch by 2010, but I can tell you that we do have exciting new global partners to announce and plenty of huge concepts and events planned. We believe the promise of these early days is bounded only by the imaginations of inspired shoppers, brilliant brands, and shareholders, such as those around this table, who can help spread the word.

Thank you again for this opportunity.

Tamsin Smith
President
(RED)