The Ellen Degeneres Show Welcomes Bono on World AIDS Day

On World AIDS Day, Bono appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show for the very first time to talk with Ellen about her new role as a Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness and the progress that has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As the world is at a critical moment in this fight, Bono discusses the beginning of the end of AIDS and states "it's such great news to be able to say that the end of AIDS...is in sight". Watch the clip here.

Director of the Global Fund, Michel D. Kazatchkine on Funding an AIDS Free Generation

Guest blog by Michel D. Kazatchkine, Global Fund Executive Director 

On World AIDS Day 2011, Michel Kazatchkine blogged for the Huffington Post reminding us that delivering an AIDS Free Generation will take continued and increased funding, and that each person can do his or her part by buying (RED), joining ONE, or donating directly to the Global Fund through joinred.com. You can read his piece below:

In a modern, globalized world, the country in which you live or the income you earn should not determine whether or not your child will become HIV positive. And yet in my country, France, only three babies were infected last year with HIV during their mothers' pregnancy, labor, delivery, or when breastfeeding, while globally, 390,000 babies were born HIV-positive, most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. Without medical intervention, nearly half of these babies will die before their second birthday.

In 2012, we can and must do better. We can prevent millions of new infections, and get ahead of the AIDS epidemic because it costs less than $1 per day to give a mother medicine to prevent this type of transmission. That is why the global health community has set its sights on the virtual elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV by 2015. Reaching this goal is possible if we increase funding so that every woman living with HIV has access to the life-saving drugs she needs. Since 2000, the Global Fund has assisted over one million pregnant women in this way. This is a great achievement but sadly, we are still reaching only half of those who need our help. To achieve the goal of an "AIDS free generation" resources are the key. Simply stated: without resources, there are no results.

It was the administration of George W. Bush that established the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and provided funds for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Both have enjoyed widespread bi-partisan support in Congress. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has continued US leadership in the fight and recently announced the Obama Administration's support for an AIDS free generation by 2015.

Continue reading here.

(RED) Ambassador, Gisele Bundchen, on Ending Mother to Child Transmission of HIV

(RED) Ambassador and new mom, Gisele Bundchen, blogged for Huffington Post this World AIDS Day about working together to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. Read her piece below:

Guest blog from Gisele Bundchen, Huffington Post, December 1st, 2011:

For the past five years, I have worked with (RED), spreading the word about the need to fund AIDS programs in developing countries. Today, more than 1,000 babies are born with HIV every day in the developing world. As a mother, this statistic really breaks my heart, especially when as many as 98% of these cases could be prevented through HIV screening of pregnant women, antiretroviral drug regimens for HIV+ pregnant women, treatment during and after labor, and education programs about infant feeding guidelines.

If we act now, we can help put these strategies into action and introduce the world to the first AIDS-free generation in nearly 30 years. This past World AIDS Day (December 1st), (RED) and its sister organization, ONE, highlighted the global health community's goal of virtually eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.

Read the full blog here. 

Are You the Next (RED) Digital Intern?

Do you want to put your digital skills to work at (RED)?

(RED) is seeking an energetic, passionate, social media obsessed Digital Intern based in New York. We’re looking for juniors, seniors, or 2011 graduates who can start in December and can commit to 3 - 4 days per week.

The intern will work with the (RED) Digital Team on a variety of creative projects. 

The intern will:

· Assist with digital marketing, communications campaigns, and organization

· Create digital design assets for (RED) properties and campaigns

· Update www.joinred.com via a Content Management System

· Research/utilize latest social media to engage and inform our supporters 

Intern qualifications include:

· Addicted to social media: must use Facebook & Twitter; Uses of other social media/blogs a plus

· Comprehensive digital design knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

· Love of music a plus

· Excellent research and writing skills

· Organizational abilities and keen attention to detail

· Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite

· Ability to work in an energetic atmosphere and take direction

· Discretion and a professional demeanor

· Dependable and punctual

· GPA of 3.0 or higher

The ideal candidate would be able to start in January and work through the spring semester; however, start/end dates are flexible and can be based upon the candidate’s availability.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter in one email to InternApplication@joinred.com ASAP with the subject “(RED) Digital Intern”.  This is an unpaid position.

Visit our website to learn more about (RED) - www.joinred.com

Meaningful Change: An AIDS Free Generation by 2015

(RED)'s CEO, Deborah Dugan, blogged for the Huffington Post on World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2011. 

Thirty years ago, researchers first identified AIDS, and a global health crisis was born. After more than three decades of destruction, we are finally at a turning point and on a path to winning the war against HIV/AIDS. We are now on the verge of an incredible and highly attainable milestone -- virtually ending the transmission of HIV from moms to their babies by the end of 2015. Achieving this milestone and a number of other attainable goals can mark what the global health community is calling "the beginning of the end of AIDS."

The progress that has been made in recent years to fight the AIDS epidemic has been astounding. What was once a death sentence because of inaccessibility to treatment is now a disease that can be managed, thanks to life-saving antiretroviral medication. More than six million people are benefiting from this medication, the cost of which has dropped dramatically through the efforts of the public and private sectors. For the price of a U.S. postage stamp, people who are HIV-positive can receive the daily treatment needed to regain their strength and their opportunity at life.

More than 1,000 children are born with the virus every day. The good news is that the transmission of HIV from moms to their babies can now be prevented. A multi-tiered approach involving HIV screening of pregnant women, antiretroviral drug regimens for HIV-positive pregnant women, treatment during and after labor, and infant feeding guidelines has been shown to block mother-to-child transmission in up to 98% of cases. I saw this firsthand when I recently visited two (RED)-supported clinics in Ghana: the Tema Teaching Hospital and Korle Bu Clinic. There, I witnessed the miraculous sight of HIV-positive mothers surrounded by their HIV-negative babies.

The current Global Fund AIDS grant in Ghana receives over 50% of its funding from (RED) and has helped support programs that have provided more than 7,700 HIV-positive pregnant women with ARV prophylaxis to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission and established and supported more than 800 centers for prevention of mother-to-child transmission. By making this care accessible to more pregnant women, we can virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. The first AIDS-free generation in nearly 30 years is in sight.

Leaders from across the aisle and from around the world have demonstrated political and financial will to fight this disease. Governments have stepped up with funding, as have non-governmental organizations, which are working on the ground to educate and provide preventative and acute care.

Significant work still needs to be done. There are nearly nine million HIV-positive people in need of treatment in low-and middle-income countries, including 1.4 million HIV-positive pregnant women. More than 370,000 infants and children are infected with the virus each year. New HIV infections still outpace the number of people gaining access to treatment annually.

So, we find ourselves at a critical juncture in the fight against AIDS - at a time of both great opportunity and significant challenges. Innovative financing solutions and the combined efforts of the public and private sectors as well as individuals are all the more important in this environment.

(RED) serves as a model for how the private sector can help catalyze meaningful change. To date, our partners have generated more than $180 million for the Global Fund, and over 7.5 million people in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS have been impacted by Global Fund programs that (RED) supports.

Our corporate partners have stepped up to play their part in the fight. On World AIDS Day, we are asking everyone to take action to help deliver an AIDS-free Generation by the end of 2015. Create a panel on our 2015QUILT and raise awareness amongst your friends. Buy a (RED) product this holiday season. Join ONE and press policymakers to act.

Working together, we can bring an end to AIDS. It's a remarkable, critical opportunity that we simply cannot afford to miss.

Remembering What's Possible

Guest blog by Rachel Wilson, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at PATH

This year, I commemorated World AIDS Day at ONE and (RED)’s event in Washington, DC, where I listened to sitting and past presidents, members of Congress, corporate leaders, health workers from other countries, activists and even a few rockstars. At a time when every government cent is under scrutiny, I was reminded of just how far we have come in the fight against AIDS and many other diseases that disproportionately affect the developing world. I left the event feeling energized by the significant progress we have made and the leadership that has been shown by the US in addressing so many global health problems.

It wasn’t until I returned to my office and saw an email from a dear friend, who had chosen to stop taking the medication that is no longer protecting him against an ever-growing list of AIDS-related complications, that I was brought crashing back to reality. This juxtaposition between a community’s accomplishment and personal tragedy gave me pause. To be sure, we are winning the war against AIDS; but we also have a long way to go before we can declare victory.

The United States deserves a lion’s share of the credit for its leadership in the AIDS fight. My country, as Bono — Irish rock legend and cofounder of ONE — so articulately explained in a recent New York Times op-ed, has led. Really led. In just the last year alone, the US government, in partnership with nongovernmental organizations like PATH, has helped support:

Lifesaving antiretroviral treatment for 3.9 million people.

HIV testing and counseling for more than 9.8 million pregnant women.

Care for nearly 13 million people, including more than 4.1 million orphans and vulnerable children.

In the midst of the current economic crisis, when morale is low, it is natural to focus on what our government is not doing. However, when it comes to issues of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other global health issues, our leaders have really demonstrated our nation’s potential to positively impact many of the world’s gravest health problems.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which was started under President George W. Bush, has been pivotal in turning the tide against this disease. Furthermore, in an historic announcement last week, President Obama pledged to help 6 million people get treatment by 2013, 2 million more than the original goal. To have our 43rd and 44th presidents so invested in this vital issue makes me proud to be an American. It shows me that, when they want to, our two political parties can achieve some pretty remarkable feats in global health. It is our job as taxpayers to remind them of this, especially now as they consider cutting foreign assistance, a move that would only worsen morale at home, not to mention adversely impact the lives of millions around the world.

I refuse to believe that the era of bipartisanship is dead. In fact, bipartisanship was on full display at the ONE and (RED)’s event. Representative Barbara Lee, D-Calif., one of Congress’ most devoted champions on the HIV/AIDS issue, was joined on stage by freshman Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and — wait for it — they both agreed with each other! In one of my favorite quotes of the morning, Senator Rubio remarked that, as a country, we “are not just blessed so we can have; we’re blessed so we can give.” I couldn’t agree more.

It is through events like this and other World AIDS Day events that we are able to tangibly see the impact of foreign assistance and the leadership role the US has played in getting that assistance to those who need it. If the American public and policymakers better understood what the US has accomplished with their investments, I truly believe they would be reinvigorated and feel a sense of responsibility to care for the world’s poor. We are a nation of generous people, and this generosity, by and large, transcends our differences in culture, race, religion, and politics. To quote the timeless adage, which was echoed throughout the day, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

It is time, as our President so eloquently stated, to “put humanity before politics…and to fight for all the people who didn’t live to see [our success].” I promise to continue fighting for my friend and for all of the men, women, and children who were taken far too early from this world by this and other diseases. I hope you will join me.

Add your voice to the (2015)QUILT. By creating a personalized, digital panel and using it as your social media avatar you can show your support for a HIV-free generation and future US investments in global health.

Coca-Cola Joins the (RED) Family to Help Deliver an AIDS Free Generation in 2015

In the words of Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO, Muhtar Kent, “It’s encouraging to think that we could witness an AIDS-free generation during our lifetime. We’re proud to help this effort and believe it complements the current work we’re doing in many parts of the world to educate and prevent HIV/AIDS as well as provide support to people affected by this preventable and treatable disease.”

The partnership will include an initial commitment of more than $5 million USD from The Coca-Cola Company over the next four years. The partnership will raise awareness and money to help eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. This money will help fund up to 7.5 million doses of antiretroviral treatment for people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Coca-Cola system employs more than 70,000 people in Africa, which is home to more than 60 percent of the world's HIV-infected population.

We can't think of a more powerful announcement to finish off this incredible World AIDS Day. Thank you for tuning into the "Beginning of the End of AIDS" Panel, pledging to the (2015)QUILT, and sharing our message with the world. We are proud to welcome Coca-Cola as a member of the (RED) family as we work to help deliver an AIDS Free Generation by 2015.

Making an AIDS Free Generation a Reality

Guest blog by Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman & CEO

The global fight against AIDS is at an exciting yet critical juncture. For the first time, we can see the possibility of what the global health community is calling “the beginning of the end of AIDS.”

We’ve reached this point through an extraordinary public-private collaboration involving a wide range of partners: governments like the United States, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), have made remarkable commitments of money and other resources. Major private foundations, such as the Gates Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, have also contributed significant amounts of funding and game-changing ideas about how to spend this money in the most impactful ways. Organizations like The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are disbursing the funds to provide preventive education, treatment and related services to keep people alive. And the United Nations, through UNAIDS, has played a critical role in coordinating and overseeing all these efforts.

A key driver in getting the private sector engaged is (RED), which was founded five years ago to drive corporate support and help educate the public on the war on AIDS, giving people a call to action to participate.  It continues to be an incredibly successful model, generating over $180 million to support the Global Fund’s work. All the money goes to programs on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa. The results speak for themselves – more than 7.5 million people have been impacted by Global Fund initiatives that (RED) supports.

Today, HIV/AIDS is not necessarily a death sentence. It is a chronic disease that can be managed, when people are given the information and, most importantly, the life-saving medications they need to live healthier lives.  Thanks in part to the collaborative work of various organizations, those medications now cost a small fraction of what they did just a decade ago.

Starbucks has been a proud (RED) partner since 2008 and in that time has contributed nearly $10 million to the Global Fund to help those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.  For us, it has been both a rewarding and effective business relationship that reaffirms our collective commitment to caring about the cause and doing something tangible to bring about real change.

Now we are joining with (RED) to focus on a very specific goal: virtually ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the end of 2015. No child should be born with this horrific burden.  We hope to create a generation of kids – the first generation in thirty years – born HIV-free. We will continue to work with (RED) because, for our brand, it allows us to combine good works and good business. The global economic woes that have hit everyone so hard should not diminish our commitment to finishing the job we started.  It will take a renewed focus, and some creativity, to get it done.  But we cannot cede the ground we have gained when an opportunity this great is staring us in the face. We want to help make an AIDS Free Generation a reality.

Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman & CEO

For More Information
If you have questions or need more information, please contact (206) 318-7100 or press@starbucks.com.

(RED) WELCOMES THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, SAP AND AMÉRICA MÓVIL WITH THE CARLOS SLIM FOUNDATION AS NEW PROUD PARTNERS

Leading Global Brands Join (RED)’s Campaign to Help Deliver an AIDS Free Generation by 2015

NEW YORK, NY (December 1, 2011) – (RED) today announced that three major global brands, The Coca-Cola Company, SAP and América Móvil with the Carlos Slim Foundation, have joined its team of Proud Partners and the campaign to help deliver an AIDS Free Generation by 2015. (RED), cofounded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, leverages corporate and consumer power in the fight against AIDS, and has to date delivered more than $180 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

As Proud Partners, The Coca-Cola Company, SAP and América Móvil with the Carlos Slim Foundation, have each committed to deliver a minimum of $1million per year during the partnership. (RED) and its partners are focusing on helping to reach the goal of an AIDS Free Generation by 2015, one of the markers identified by the global health community for the Beginning of the End of AIDS.   This means virtually eliminating the transmission of HIV from mothers to their newborn children in the next four years.

“We are delighted to have the support of these new corporate partners at a critical and exciting time in the global fight against HIV/AIDS,” said (RED) CEO Deborah Dugan.  “With governments reducing their financial commitment to this effort due to the global economic downturn, (RED)’s role in driving more private sector involvement to the cause is more critical than ever.  These new partnerships will bring us closer to our ultimate goal of ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic.”

“It’s encouraging to think that we could witness an AIDS-free generation during our lifetime,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. “We’re proud to help this effort and believe it complements the current work we’re doing in many parts of the world to educate and prevent HIV/AIDS as well as provide support to people affected by this preventable and treatable disease.”

Announcing SAP + (RED)

The best companies in the world are powered by SAP, and today SAP will become part of the power behind the fight against AIDS. 

We are proud to announce a multi-year partnership with SAP, the global leader in business software. SAP now joins (RED) companies, world leaders, global health organizations and individuals everywhere in the fight against the world's deadliest epidemic.  

As a Proud Partner of (PRODUCT)RED, SAP has committed to a minimum of $1 million per year to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS and to help provide global access to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

SAP’s smart technology makes the best companies in the world run better. Now they can have an impact on global health. SAP has long supported educational initiatives around the world as the path to a brighter future. We are grateful that their funds will support Global Fund programs which provide care, education and counseling to HIV positive mothers as well as training for HIV/AIDS healthcare workers.

Welcome to the (RED) family  SAP!