The (RED) Room

(RED) is bringing a display of Annie Leibovitz's photography to the National Portrait Gallery in London from 27th November – 4th December to mark World AIDS Day (1st December 2008).

The display will feature portraits shot by Annie Leibovitz for (RED)'s partnership with Gap, as well as portraits taken for Vanity Fair's historic Africa edition covers in July 2007. The Vanity Fair photography captures highlights from this unique edition which saw an unprecedented set of 20 covers photographed by Annie and featuring some of the world's most prominent people, with one thing in common - Africa. The portraits include Madonna, Barack Obama, Alicia Keys and George Clooney.

The Gap photography is lifted from campaigns of celebrities shot by Annie to mark the launches of the Gap (RED) partnership in 2006 and the one year anniversary in 2007. The images present a theme of 'Individuals.' Famous faces, including Christy Turlington, Penelope Cruz and Chris Rock, are pictured wearing their favourite Gap (PRODUCT) RED TM item in a way that expresses their own personal style.

The display will be celebrated at the Gallery with a public, (RED) late night opening on Thursday 27th November. On the night, the National Portrait Gallery will contribute £2 from every late night ticket sale to the much anticipated retrospective exhibition; Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer's Life, 1990-2005 to the Global Fund.

Since (RED) was launched in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, $115 million has been generated by (RED) partners and events for the Global Fund, the recipient of (RED) money. 100% of this money is used on the ground in Africa to fund AIDS treatment and education programmes in Ghana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Rwanda. Key components of activity include provision of antiretroviral treatment for HIV positive individuals, feeding and educating children orphaned by AIDS and providing the low-cost treatments needed to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child. There are currently more than 80,000 people on antiretroviral medication with support from funds generated by (RED) activity.

One of the most celebrated photographers of our time, Annie Leibovitz has been making witty, powerful images documenting American popular culture since the early 1970s. Her work also includes creating iconic (RED) moments to inspire and create desire for (RED) products created by some of the world's leading brands.

Turn any gift (RED) with free gift-wrapping from (RED)

If you live in Boston, Seattle or Chicago, this coming weekend, you can turn any gift you buy (RED) with our free gift wrapping stations. Our wrapping stations will be set up from Friday to Sunday and we will wrap any gift free of charge with Hallmark (RED) wrapping paper. In Boston, we will be at the Cambridgeside Galleria near the entrance to the food court and in the Silver City Galleria next to Zales. In Seattle, we will be at the Alderwood Mall, between Hallmark and Luxury Nails and at the Kitsap Mall, on the south side of Guest Services, near Claire's. In Chicago, we will be at the Stratford Square Mall near the main entrance and the food court. On Friday, all of wrap stations will be open early in the morning from 7am to 10am. On Saturday and Sunday we will be wrapping presents from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Malaak and Chris Rock and Dell (PRODUCT) RED: helping kids connect in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC - Chris and Malaak Rock hosted more than 250 Brooklyn children and staff from The Salvation Army Bushwick Community Center here to celebrate the opening of the Center’s revitalized library – which features new books, furniture, shelving and carpet created by Target, and (we are very proud to say) brand new Dell (PRODUCT) RED laptops and desktops! The computers looked beautiful in the space, and of course, will go a long way to help foster literacy and social engagement in the community. “For me, as a parent,” said Malaak, “ I feel like reading is fundamental. I really believe that you need a computer to be literate.” As a child, Chris Rock attended after school and summer programs at the center. “I played here as a kid after school. I played pool, basketball, foosball, I got beat up here a couple of times and I learned how to fight here to, “ he said. The couple have been strong supporters of (RED) since its inception: “We cannot think of anything better than getting people to exercise their consumer power by buying (RED) products to help eliminate HIV in Africa. Dell is one of the amazing companies that partner with (RED) and we are so grateful for their generosity. Thanks to Dell, children from Brooklyn have access to computers that bridge the digital divide.” Thank you Dell!

Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED Holiday Cards are Now on Sale

Hallmark's user-created (PRODUCT) RED cards are ready just in time for the holidays. With every card purchase, you'll be voting for contest finalists and helping to eliminate AIDS in Africa – now through December 22nd. You can buy and vote for your favorite card by visiting hallmark.com/you. Hallmark will contribute 8% of sales directly to the Global Fund. Check it out!

(PRODUCT) RED in Seventeen

Check out Seventeen Magazine this month – we’ve teamed up to offer you 2 special edition (PRODUCT) RED items from Dell and Converse. They’re exclusive to Seventeen readers, and when you buy them, a portion of the proceeds goes to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. And look for interviews with three teens from Africa, who are living with HIV thanks in part to your (RED) purchases. Check out seventeen.com/red.

FLAVOU(RED)

London – November 10th: Heidi Bishop and Davina McCall hosted ‘FLAVOU(RED)’ – a lunch for 60 female opinion makers in support of (RED)’s partnership with Emporio Armani. Held at the Emporio Armani Caffe, FLAVOU(RED) attendees included Sarah Brown, Wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Lady Helen Taylor, British TV presenter Claudia Winkleman and Models Erin O’Connor and Laura Bailey. Davina McCall, just back from Africa, encouraged and inspired guests to think and shop (RED) this Holiday season, sharing her passion for (RED)’s ability to make it easy for consumers to make a difference, simply by choosing (RED) products.

L to R: Hosts Heidi Bishop and Davina McCall with Lady Helen Taylor and Mrs Sarah Brown

English fashion model, Ms Erin O’Connor in front of the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection

L to R: Lady Helen Taylor, Seb Bishop, International CEO, (RED) and Mrs Sarah Brown

FLAVOU(RED) guests give Davina their full attention as she explains her passion for (RED)

Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection displayed at the Brompton Road Store

Starbucks is (RED)

This week, Starbucks announced that they are partnering with (PRODUCT)^RED, making an historic multi-year commitment that will give millions of people the opportunity to generate millions of dollars for the Global Fund and save the lives of thousands of Africans living with HIV and AIDS. This surprise announcement was made by Starbucks CEO Howard Schulz on a stage before an audience of more than 10,000 Starbucks partner employees who had come from all over the world for an arena-sized company meeting.

When Schulz said the words and the audience saw the (Starbucks)^RED logo, there was an immediate and deafening cheer from the Starbucks partners. (And this was before they found out that (RED) founder Bono was backstage, waiting to meet them.)

It was an amazing moment for us because it was so clear that Starbucks and their partner employees were ALREADY (RED)—(RED) 10,000 times over. They know that their company can change the world. When Bono challenged them to join the front-lines in the fight against HIV and AIDS by turning their own stores (RED), they were out of their seats again and ready to get started.

Starting on November 28th, those same Starbucks partners will be unveiling (Starbucks)^RED Holiday Exclusives—every time you buy one, a nickel goes to The Global Fund. And Starbucks makes a lot of coffee, giving all of you the chance to turn those nickels into millions of dollars just by choosing (RED). And the (RED) products will just keep on coming at Starbucks so that you can keep on doing something good every day.

We’ve gotten to know some amazing people at Starbucks while planning this partnership. This week, we met 10,000 more. Okay, so you know how big Starbucks is…but you may not know how committed they are to making the world a better place.

Did you know that all 10,000 of them volunteered to rebuild homes in New Orleans this week? They did.

Did you know that they made an announcement this week to double the amount of Fair Trade coffee beans they buy each year to 40 million pounds? They did that too.

It’s all part of their core values—they call it SHARED PLANET. We call it SHA(RED) PLANET—some of the best coffee beans Starbucks buys come from countries in Africa that are faced with the threat of HIV and AIDS every day. Now, you can help them do something about it, every day.

Seeing all the store managers gathered together was a reminder that Starbucks isn’t just a big company, it’s also the actual person who makes you your coffee every day. Yesterday, that person joined (RED) and for the price of a cup of coffee, you can too. Coming this holiday season to a corner near you… BUY (RED) COFFEE, SAVE LIVES.

Jenifer Willig & Colin Brady, (RED)

Starbucks Joins (RED) to Help Save Lives in Africa

Starbucks and (RED) today announced a multi-year partnership that will give coffee lovers a chance to do good every day.

Throughout the holiday season, Starbucks will contribute five cents from the sale of any of (Starbucks) RED Exclusive beverage (the three beverages that make up the Starbucks popular holiday trio) at all of their US and Canadian stores to the Global Fund to invest in AIDS programs in Africa.

“(RED) is making remarkable progress in the worldwide effort to address AIDS in Africa,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and CEO. “We have a deep partnership with coffee growing regions in Africa. We are proud to partner with our customers to contribute toward an AIDS-free Africa.”

Schultz joined Bono, co-founder of (RED), for today’s announcement in front of 10,000 Starbucks partners (employees) at the company's 2008 Leadership Conference in New Orleans.

“(RED) is coming to a corner near you thanks to Starbucks. I’m very excited to be able to say that,” said Bono, co-founder of (RED). “The business of Starbucks with roots in Africa and branches all over the world is an ideal fit for (RED). It’s pretty mind-blowing to think that millions of people can buy (RED) going about their daily lives and in doing so raise millions of dollars to fight AIDS in Africa. That’s not a bad hit from your caffeine.”

(Starbucks) RED Exclusive Holiday beverages go on sale November 27, 2008 and continue through January 2, 2009.

Friends Like Agnes

14,000 people attended the Women’s Conference in Long Beach last month to hear inspirational speeches from Bono, Maria Shriver and many others. (RED) was there in full force, sharing a booth with our friends at ONE, and spreading the word on how all of us can help eliminate extreme poverty and diseases like AIDS in Africa. Plenty of friends old and new stopped by to see the latest collections from (RED) partners and to sign up for (RED)Wire downloads. Russell Simmons paid us a visit, as did Agnes Nyamayarwo, and two ONE volunteers Debbie and Sue.

A Ugandan nurse and activist, Agnes joined Bono and Bobby Shriver on the 2002 “Heart of America” tour, helping to mobilize Americans to take action on HIV and AIDS in Africa. Since then, she’s remained a tireless supporter of ONE and continues her amazing work with “TASO” the AIDS Support Organisation of Uganda and with the women of MPWN. She was in the United States speaking as the headline presenter at the Executive Networks Fall conference. The organization asked Agnes to speak on the theme of "Transforming Your Life for the Future," knowing that her story of overcome the obstacles would be inspiring to the corporate audience and well beyond. Seeing Agnes was a reminder of how much individuals matter to the success of big endeavors. Rather than focusing on the size of the challenge by looking at the sheer number of people impacted by AIDS in Africa, Agnes has rallied for people – here neighbors, her friends, and the continent she calls home – to explain why the world should care. She brings the value of life to life simply by showing what she’s done with hers.

Good to see you Agnes,

Tamsin