Matsietsi Tsephe: Keeping the Skies Safe in Lesotho. By Greta Thomas

If you ever find yourself flying to Lesotho in southern Africa, chances are you’ll be counting on the technical and meteorological expertise of Matsietsi Tsephe.

This 48 year old mother of three boys has been the Airport’s Meteorologist for many years now. If she’s on shift, then Matsietsi gives vital information to both pilots and the Control Tower to ensure aircraft take off and land safely on her watch. Lesotho’s Moshoeshoe International Airport is frequented by small twin-engine planes and is surrounded by fairly mountainous countryside, all of which means that aircraft landings and take-offs can be quite weather-dependent and pilots absolutely rely on the information Matsietsi provides.

Matsietsi learnt she was HIV positive in 2003 when she kept getting sick and had skin rashes. She’s not sure how she contracted the virus but thinks that she may have been infected when she had a Caesarian-section giving birth to her third and youngest son, who is now 11 years old.

She says of the time she learnt she was HIV positive: “When I was diagnosed I thought I would be dead in 2-3 years but I survived.” Now Matsietsi says, “It’s not for me to ask how I became infected with HIV but instead to ask myself, how should I live with it most positively.”

And this big-hearted woman is not only living positively and openly with her status but she is also helping and inspiring other HIV+ women in Lesotho. Amongst other things, Matsietsi is Treasurer of Lesotho’s national umbrella body for support groups for people living with HIV, LENEPWHA, and indeed she helped set the organization up.

Matsietsi began lifesaving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy nearly five years ago. In March this year, (RED) money began flowing to a Global Fund HIV and AIDS grant in Lesotho, meaning that since then, (RED) helps fund the ARV pills that HIV+ women like Matsietsi must take every day in order to stay healthy.

And staying healthy is something Matsietsi is counting on…. last year she was overwhelmed to see her eldest son graduate from university and she intends to be around to see her 11 year old son do the same in years to come. And then there are her bold dreams to help improve Lesotho’s facilities for people living with HIV, including opening both a hospice and a mobile clinic.

From what (RED) can tell having seen Matsietsi in action, we’re not the only ones who think the forecast seems brighter and sunnier when Matsietsi is around.

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(RED) at Work in Rwanda.

I've just returned from my first visit to Rwanda, where (RED) funds have been hard at work. A friend once told me that Rwanda either breaks your heart or fills you with hope. I came away hopeful. Here's why:

In May 2006, Rwanda became the first country to receive (RED) money through the Global Fund. The announcement was made at a press conference in Kigali by Bono and Richard Feachem, the then-Executive Director of the Fund. In those days, just 28 months ago, up to six people shared single beds in Kigali Hospital's HIV/AIDS wards. Conditions were so bad that visiting the Kigali wards was itself a health risk. As Bono said at the time, the conditions were "obscene."

In the two-plus years since that announcement, the Global Fund has wired more than $22 million of (RED) money to Rwanda. Last week, I visited the same clinic - the Treatment Research and AIDS Center (or TRAC) -to witness, first hand, the impact of that funding. The effect has been transformational.

We walked through TRAC wards to see that adults and children no longer share beds. Increased funding for HIV/AIDS has allowed TRAC's Director, Dr Anita Asiimwe to lighten case loads by referring clients to other clinics closer to homes, where they are able to receive follow-up care and antiretroviral medication. TRAC is clean, well-staffed, well-managed.

Later, we visited a young woman named Denyse at her home in Kigali. Bono first met her in May of 2006. At that time, Denyse was in the pediatric hospital, emaciated, almost skeletal from AIDS. She's now ten, healthy and doing well in school. Her mom Esperance and father Dennis can hardly contain their joy at having their daughter's future restored.

In 2007, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, described (RED) as the "middle piece" to Rwanda's economic development. She explained that before (RED), she and her colleagues weren't sure if additional funds would be available to support HIV and AIDS work. They were worried that what they had built would crumble if money dried up. But, as she said, "(RED) monies ensured the sustainability of Rwanda's efforts. (RED) brought the positive energy back, allowing creativity and innovation to flow again." It was the middle piece "upon which we could place the next floor of upwards progress."

Rwanda has seen true horror and unimaginable suffering. The genocide in 1994 saw an estimated 1,000,000 people slaughtered in 100 days; ten thousand people a day. This history makes Rwanda's ambition to have a middle-class economy by 2020 all the more impressive and all the more daunting. (RED) money is helping the country achieve its healthcare goals, which in turn enables the Government to embark upon an equally impressive and ambitious economic growth strategy.

Some of their results so far:

In 2003, when the first Global Fund grant was made to Rwanda, 5% of the population was HIV-positive, while 11.6% of pregnant women were testing positive for HIV in antenatal clinics in 2002. By the end of 2003, 22,000 people had died from AIDS and 160,000 children between the ages of 0 to 17 had been orphaned as a result of the pandemic¹.

That HIV prevalence rate is now down to 3% for adults amongst Rwanda's 9 million inhabitants. Among the recent improvements in Rwanda's HIV response is the expansion of services for preventing HIV transmission from mothers to children. In addition, more male partners are attending prevention of mother-to-child transmission services with their wives and girlfriends.

According to one study, the percentage of men doing so increased from 9% in 2003 to 74% at the end of 2006².

Rwanda has achieved the highest coverage of any low-income country in 2007 for both antiretroviral therapy (71% up from 1% in 2003) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (55%). This increased coverage has been aided by a 40-fold increase in the number of antiretroviral treatment (ART) sites across the country³ and (RED) can take some of the credit for helping the Government.

When people ask me what I do at (RED), I tell them that we are trying to build a sustainable brand that translates easily for consumers. If you buy an Apple (PRODUCT)^RED iPod nano, for the same price as a "regular" Apple iPod nano, $10 goes directly to the Global Fund. If one million people buy the (PRODUCT)^RED version, then $10 million goes directly to the Global Fund. The same basic math applies to all of our other "Partner products" from Gap t-shirts to Hallmark greeting cards to Dell computers to Windows software.

It is one thing to describe our business model. It is quite another to see its impact. I've seen the impact in Rwanda. What (RED) asks everyone to do is consider the (RED) choice when that purchase option presents itself. You can visit our web-site (www.JOINRED.com) to see all of our Partner products. If you buy a (Product)^RED-branded product, I can say with certainty that it matters. And that the return on choosing (RED) is invaluable in human terms.

Susan Smith Ellis, CEO, (RED)

¹ UNAIDS, 2004

² UNAIDS Epidemic Update 2007

³ 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

Hearing Ghana's Melody Lines in the Rose Garden. By Tamsin Smith

I received a note this week from Nicole Mackinlay Hahn who travelled to Swaziland and Ghana with me last year. I’d been unable to accept an invitation from an old colleague in Washington D.C. to attend a ceremony welcoming the President of Ghana to the United States. Nicole was able to go in my place and send this lovely note and photos. To date, over half of the Global Fund grant disbursed in Ghana is supported by (RED) shoppers.

Hi Tamsin, I am truly grateful for the invitation to the State Arrival Ceremony for the President of Ghana, President Kafuor, which was followed by a State lunch hosted by Madame Secretary Rice. At the lunch there was a receiving line, where I was greeted by both President Kafuor and Secretary Rice. Our (RED) trip to Ghana in 2007 made this ceremony even more special for me. As the fife and drum corps played "Yankee Doodle", I could not help but hum the melody to "In Ghana" by Rocky Dawuni. I could see guests in traditional Ghanaian dress celebrating, reminding me of the spirit and shine of Ghana. I feel blessed to have visited such a democratic and beautiful country. I not only remember the patients’ stories from the fevers unit, the line at the pharmacy where the ARV's are distributed, St. Martins Lab, and the Wisdom Association’s pineapple farm ... I also have the voice of clinic nurse Ellen Sam in my head, saying: "The Global Fund is a lifeline, honestly people are clinging to it for life ...So please, thank you (RED)!" All of this was clear in my mind as President Kafuor spoke on the White House lawn. And I was able to share these experiences at my table during the State lunch. It was an honor to see an African President formally welcomed to the United States. I am inspired and thankful, and will to continue to do more work in Africa and support (RED). See attached photos! Warmest,

Nicole

Photo credit: Nicole Mackinlay Hahn

More photos of the State Arrival Ceremony for President Kafuor of Ghana at the White House...

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

Life After Everest Is a Breeze. Jeff Dossett didn’t climb his first mountain until he was 40. Eight years later, he’s climbed the tallest peak on every continent and has used his adventures to raise awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

By Jennifer Warnick September 25, 2008

Jeff Dossett, Melissa Arnot, and Dave Morton make up Everest Team
INSPI(RED), which climbed Mount Everest earlier this year to raise awareness for and help fight against HIV/AIDS.

Summiting the tallest mountain on Earth, where in some places there are “literally 1,000 places to die,” gives a certain sense of perspective. Jeff Dossett returned from Mount Everest with this sense of perspective—the kind that makes him chuckle when people complain that something is difficult or impossible. “I have a different set point in my brain,” Dossett said. Climbing Everest “forever affects the way you think about challenges and obstacles in your normal life.”

Dossett, MSN executive producer and general manager, has climbed Everest twice. The first time was in 2004, and the second was earlier this year as part of TEAM INSPI(RED). He and two other climbers climbed the mountain specifically to raise awareness for PRODUCT (RED) and change the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The TEAM INSPI(RED) climb was a highly interactive one, with Dossett and his team blogging and posting videos and photos along the way using a Windows-based PDA via satellite and a Dell laptop. When he and climbing partners Melissa Arnot and David Morton reached the summit on May 22, Dossett had not only brought some high-profile attention to the RED cause, but had also become only the second Canadian in history to reach the summit of Mount Everest a second time.

Dossett, who grew up in Toronto and said he wasn’t particularly adventurous in his youth, didn’t climb his first mountain until he was 40. Eight years ago, an overworked, overweight, and overstressed Dossett would commute back and forth to Redmond, look out at Mt. Rainier, and wonder if he could ever climb something that impressive—something that grand.

When U2's Bono came to Microsoft, Dossett told the musician, “Listen, I can’t sing, but I can climb mountains,” and shared his plan for EVEREST TEAM INSPI(RED). Dossett and Bono are shown here with Bobby Shriver (left), a cofounder of (RED).

Shopping at REI one weekend, he made a decision to change his life. He saw a poster for the Climb for Clean Air, a fundraising climb of Mount Rainier for the American Lung Association. Though he was unprepared for such a climb, Dossett signed up and started training. At the time, Mount Rainier might as well have been Mount Everest. “I needed that big, bold goal that appeared unattainable, but that I was committed to, to give me the motivation to make change. I wasn’t really sure I could do [Rainier], let alone anything higher than that,” Dossett said. But after making it to the top of Washington State’s tallest peak, he wanted more. “The feeling was so powerful, so motivational, that I thought ‘How do I take this to the next level?’”

After a second trip up Rainier the next year, Dossett decided to do something bigger and bolder. In 2002, Dossett took two years away from work at Microsoft to climb the highest mountain on every continent in the world, known as the Seven Summits. He was only the third Canadian in history to climb the seven mountains: Kilimanjaro in Africa (Tanzania), Aconcagua in South America (Argentina), Elbrus in Europe (Russia), Denali in North America (Alaska), Kosciuszko in Australia, Vinson in Antarctica, and finally Everest in Asia (Nepal).

During this time, when he wasn’t globetrotting and climbing, Dossett would spend between four and six hours a day at ProClub on the stair climber and treadmill. To help pass the endless hours of training, he made good use of several generations of Zune digital media players, listening to music and watching videos as he prepared for his climbs.

“I arguably over prepared and over trained, but that was one way of mitigating the risks,” Dossett said. “Fear is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to mountaineering. It makes you focus on preparation and aligning yourself with your team.”Dossett (center) climbed Mount Everest in May. His mountain climbing mantra is one perfect step at a time. “You can never let your guard down. One minor mistake at high altitude on a steep ice face is life threatening.”

After climbing Kilimanjaro, the first of the seven peaks he would summit, Dossett spent a couple of weeks in Africa and “witnessed firsthand the pain and suffering of those living with HIV/AIDS. At the time, I knew I had to do more,” he said

When U2’s Bono came to visit Microsoft for an update on what the company was doing to support the (RED) AIDS awareness and relief organization, Dossett was inspired once again to take action and told the musician, “Listen, I can’t sing, but I can climb mountains.” He told Bono of his plan for EVEREST TEAM INSPI(RED) and his hope that it would help inspire others to take action and help make a difference.

On May 22, Dossett climbed to the top of the world, 29,035 feet, this time for a cause he’s passionate about and with the world watching online. “I had a much better sense of what this entire experience was going to be like. What I learned from the first experience is that to summit Everest is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one,” Dossett said. “In 2008, I arrived with better knowledge, familiarity, and could then focus more on the real purpose of our expedition, which was to raise awareness of PRODUCT (RED) and the AIDS pandemic.”

Climbing Everest requires approximately nine weeks of acclimatization on the mountain, Dossett said. He had to climb six to eight hours every day for over two months, during which he experienced a full range of weather and physical challenges. With the snow and ice and the sun and its intense reflection, there were wildly varying temperatures to cope with. “Many people define mountaineering as long periods of enduring extreme discomfort, and say it’s only enjoyable in retrospect, rarely in the moment itself,” Dossett said.

He has a mantra: one perfect step at a time. “You can never let your guard down. One minor mistake at high altitude on a steep ice face is life threatening. The difference between living and dying is mental focus.”

This quilted flag was designed and created by the Hillcrest AIDS Centre in South Africa for the team’s journey. The flag represents Africa and (RED) efforts in Africa, as well as an artistic view of the Everest profile and a silhouette of the climbers.

Climbing Everest twice in the last eight years has completely changed Dossett’s ideas about his own capabilities and has left him craving new experiences. “It’s fair to say that I am now an adventure junkie, and that as long as I am physically capable, I will pursue relatively extreme adventure experiences because of the self-awareness and the self-learning and the sense of accomplishment of pursuing something beyond your comfort zone,” Dossett said. “At the same time, I have no death wish and do everything in my power to mitigate the risks of my adventures, including extensive skills training.” This is appreciated by his wife and three sons who, in the early days of his climbing, worried about the risk, but also have seen how much Dossett prepares himself and develops his skills for his adventures.

What could possibly be next for him? “Given that I’ve climbed the highest mountain on Earth, there’s a mountain on Mars called Olympus. An 80,000-foot mountain,” Dossett joked. “It’s the seven years getting there and back that I don’t know how to deal with yet.” No matter what the future brings, Everest has changed how he experiences every single day at work and home.

“No one who climbs Mount Everest is ever the same. When you stand on the top of the world, you know it. Having achieved this in my personal life, now I think professionally at Microsoft there’s nothing we can’t achieve,” Dossett said. “It fundamentally resets the expectations of what you think you can achieve in your personal and professional life forever.”

Read more about Dossett’s adventures with TEAM INSPI(RED)

To learn more about (RED), or join Dossett in helping to fight against HIV/AIDS, visit JoinRED.com

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

Bono on CNN American Morning. Bono was at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday to discuss the fight against disease in the developing world. He stopped by CNN to talk about (RED) and the other humanitarian efforts he's involved with on American Morning. Watch it here:

Embeddable player not loading? View at CNN.com

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

2 million people.. By Colin Brady, (RED)

2 million people.

That’s the total number of people in Africa who are alive today thanks to anti-retroviral medication—just two pills a day that can keep a person with HIV alive and healthy.

2 million people. That’s about equal to the entire population of Houston, Texas.

Imagine being part of a movement that could bring 2 million people back from the brink of death so that they could live and work and take care of their families. Well, if you’re (RED), you are. All (RED) money goes directly to the Global Fund to help distribute those two little pills.

And it’s working.

“Lives are being saved on an unprecedented scale”.

Those are the words of Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of The Global Fund. Dr. Kazatchkine and his staff were in New York last week for the UN General Assembly to meet with world leaders, heads of state and, well…us. I mean, these are the people running the global fight against pandemic disease and yet, here they were, crammed into our conference room, surrounded by (RED) staffers, telling us what a difference (RED) makes. If you have ever chosen (RED), I wish you could have been there because, really, they were here to talk to you. And to thank you for what you have done.

Thanks to (RED) people and (RED) companies, The Global Fund has $115 Million more dollars on hand to buy and distribute life-saving medicine. That money is going to work right now in (RED) programs in Rwanda, Ghana, Swaziland, and Lesotho.

And every time you choose a (RED) product that number grows.

Yes, it’s working. And there is a lot more we can do. I have seen a few of the new (RED) products and new (RED) partners that will be coming out in the next year of (PRODUCT)RED, and I can tell you that we are all just getting started. Thank you for being part of this. And thank you for choosing (RED). Buy (RED). Save Lives.

Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of The Global Fund

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

United Nations Association of the United States of America Honors (RED).

Last week, the UNA-USA held its 50^th Annual Global Leadership Awards Gala honoring the champions of the Millennium Development Goals at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. (RED) was honored for exceptional efforts and leadership in addressing the 5^th and 6^th MDG’s: improving maternal health and combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Susan Smith Ellis accepted the award for (RED), joining others including Dr. Larry Brilliant of google.org, Jay-Z and Ted Turner - all of whom have contributed to achieving the MDG’s by 2015. As the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon wrote, the evening celebrated “our common vision for building a better world in the 21^st century, and freeing humankind from hunger, illiteracy, disease, disempowerment and environmental degradation.” Michael Douglas, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, was the host of the evening.

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(RED)UCATION 101. (RED) is LIVE on Campus. Our college outreach program has been in full swing since the start of the fall semester. Our six (RED) U Ambassadors are hard at work, connecting with fellow students, other campus organizations, faculty, community members and even employees at (RED) product partner retail stores. They may represent diverse schools from across the United States, but all are inspired by the same goal: mobilize more people to buy (RED) and save lives.

Stephanie, our student Ambassador at North Carolina A & T, has been going non-stop since August, hosting and arranging meetings and planning a fashion show for World AIDS Day on her campus.

Jordyn -- her counterpart at U of Wisconsin-Madison -- has been connecting with her fellow students for the past month now, forming alliances and educating about the (RED) model, and will soon be hosting regular film screenings on campus.

At Sacred Heart, Mike has been recruiting and training volunteers, and working to get his campus newspaper to turn (RED) for World AIDS Day on December 1st.

From San Diego to Harvard, both Kelsey and Tian have been organizing peers, hosting tabling sessions and planning big World AIDS Day activities at their respective campuses.

Simon -- our Ambassador at Notre Dame – is building a network of students and alumni, some of whom were ‘embraced’ at a recent football game!

All together, our six enthusiastic Ambassadors have already educated thousands of fellow students about the AIDS crisis in Africa and how the (RED) model works to end it. Check out their blogs for regular updates and enjoy these photos!

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

Your (RED) impact continues to grow in Rwanda. Rwanda continues to be a true success story in the fight against HIV and AIDS – thanks in part to your (RED) purchases. In the last week, (RED) has expanded its support in Rwanda – adding a second program, the Global Fund Round 6 HIV/AIDS grant, to get more people there the treatment they need to stay alive.  

Rwanda’s success in reducing the number of lives lost to AIDS has been outstanding. As the first country to receive (RED) funds, Rwanda is now able to provide 71% of people living with HIV and AIDS the lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (ART) they need. This is a fantastic increase since 2003 when only 1% of people who needed ART could access it.

Of course this still means that nearly one-third of people in Rwanda who need ART to stay alive (nearly 20,000 people) are not yet able to access it … and this is where (RED) and the Global Fund play a vital role.

Now your (RED) dollars will help get even more people access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. And we will help prevent mother-to-child-transmission with the treatment mothers need to give their babies a good chance of being born healthy. This grant also supports vital care and prevention services, as well as supporting some of Rwanda’s 200,000 AIDS orphans.

In addition to Rwanda, other positive results are already being achieved by Global Fund and (RED) supported programs in Swaziland, Ghana and Lesotho. More than 2.5 million people have been impacted so far by programs supported by (RED).  

Thanks to you.

The TRAC clinic is the major clinic in Kigali for people living with HIV. 

Ruhengeri Hospital pharmacy, Rwanda 

Rwanda street scene

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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. By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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) By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(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.

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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! By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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!

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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. By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

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. By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

What World AIDS Day Means To Me. By Susan Smith Ellis
CEO, (RED)

For some, today is a day of reflection, to remember a loved one or friends lost to AIDS. For others, today is a day to acknowledge the progress we've made fighting this pandemic, and the tens of thousands of lives that have been saved thanks to the availability of life-saving antiretroviral medicine, and new ways of getting access to it, like (RED).

For me, today is a day where I think of what still needs to be done, of the literally, millions of people we still need to help in Africa who are fighting to survive. I recently traveled to Rwanda and saw the impact of the (RED) money at work. Clinics that a few years ago lacked basic sanitation and supplies, now are functioning well and helping thousands of people live a better life. Real results in preventing mother to child transmission of the virus . Real progress in getting the anti retroviral drugs to those in need and to stemming the spread of AIDS. However, this clearly isn’t work that is finished and today is the day where I see not only how far we've come, but how much more remains to be done.

In sub-Saharan Africa, over 4,000 lives are lost every day to this preventable, treatable disease. Mothers and fathers die for lack of two pills that cost 40 cents a day. There are 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa, and it is projected that there could be 18 million by the end of the decade. Children bringing up children. It’s not a cause. It’s an emergency.

The numbers can seem overwhelming, the size of the epidemic so massive, that we ask, what can one person do? Well, thanks to your (RED) purchases, you have driven $115 million into the Global Fund to buy the two pills a day that keep a person living with HIV in Africa alive. Through the power of the purse you have caused companies to give a percentage of their profits to the Global Fund.

And today, Starbucks is donating 5 cents for every single drink sold directly to The Global Fund and throughout the rest of the holiday season, there will be special (RED) drinks available at Starbucks. They sell 50 million cups of coffee every day. You do the math - if some of these purchases are (RED) then potentially millions will be delivered to the fund. And all you have to do is buy a cup of coffee. At no extra cost to you.

Also today, we are launching (RED) Wire, a digital music magazine that, for $5 a month, gives you amazing music from artists like John Legend, U2, Jenny Lewis, Keith Urban, Elvis Costello and more. You'll also get special content and updates from Africa - with half the money going directly to The Global Fund. There's a launch party going on right now at red.msn.com - stop by and you can sign up for two free issues of (RED) Wire.

There are special (RED) t-shirts at GAP. African-inspired (RED) DELL Laptops. A new student upgrade of (RED) Windows Vista Ultimate. And a new (RED) iPod nano. Not to mention our Armani (RED) collection, Hallmark (RED) gift cards, the artist inspired Converse One HUND(RED) and their African canvas Chuck Taylors and many more options. I hope that as you look at your holiday list, you'll think about including some (RED) gifts - buy (RED) and you save lives, it's as simple as that.

Tomorrow, it won’t be World AIDS Day again, but the need will still be there as it will be every single day from now to next December 1st. To all of you who choose (RED), thank you. What you choose to buy matters. By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(RED) Collages from Polyvore.com. On December 1st, Polyvore.com launched a contest for their users to create collage designs that included at least 1 (PRODUCT) RED item from our site. There were 359 entries in all, and though we thought they were all great, three winners were chosen. Check them out below!

1st:

WORLD AiDS DAY [[P0PULAR SET LiST 12-1-08!!]] by ❄its*IZZIE*CULLEN[♥'s TWiLiGHT!]

2nd:

World AIDS Day - Go Red by EMILY LIZ

3rd:

RED Knowledge by ♥✿PaintHead♥ By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(RED) visits Lesotho to see (RED) funds in action. Two (RED) staffers, Christina Malito and Monica Valenti, recently visited Lesotho, our latest grant country. They will be sharing their experiences over the course of the next few months.

Most people have never heard of Lesotho, so let’s start with some quick facts.

Lesotho is a country nestled within South Africa and is only about the size of the state of Maryland. It is a very mountainous country and about three-quarters of the population live in rural areas.

While the country is small, it has the 3rd highest AIDS prevalence in the world – 23.2% of the population are HIV positive.

The efforts to stem the AIDS emergency in this area face many challenges, such as geography, poverty, cultural and religious stigmas.

The good news is, Lesotho has already received $7.85MM of (RED) money and a total of $24.2 million from this Global Fund (RED) grant to date. They have been putting that money to good use. The programs support a variety of efforts, from medicine distribution to awareness building to income generating activities. All programs incorporate education which is the first step to helping eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Thanks to robust awareness programs, 448,000 people have come in for HIV testing and counseling, and 31,000 HIV+ people have begun ARV treatment. One of the areas that shows the most promise in Lesotho is the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child. More than 95% of pregnant women in Lesotho are now being tested for their HIV status. Of those who tested positive and are receiving PMTCT, the majority of their babies are born HIV negative and remain healthy.

We got to experience firsthand the great work being done on the ground, and were most amazed by the incredible people behind these success stories. We will be sharing some of these stories in a special blog series over the next few months, so stay tuned for more.

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(RED) on Fox Business. (RED) CEO Susan Smith Ellis was on Fox Business yesterday to talk about (RED). Have a look:

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

Converse Launches Latest 1HUND(RED) Styles. Check out the latest from the Converse (PRODUCT) RED^TM 1HUND(RED) collection. We were excited to see that Converse had a distinctive soundtrack in mind this Holiday season. For these designs, punk-rockers, pop-rockers, indie-rockers and good old fashioned rock-n-rollers put pen to Chuck and let their (RED) inspiration out.

#10
For punk frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, the decisions was easy. Black Chuck Taylors had always been meaningful in his life and music. In his updated version, Armstrong recasts the classic with a leather and hemp black upper.

#66
Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim believe that inspiration is everywhere. For their 1HUND(RED) design they found it right outside their window, in the urban-industrial skyline that graces the view from the couple's apartment. Kim included her signature pigeons-in-flight, which also appear in the band's logo and in her own art. The pop-punk duo's sunny songs seem to espouse that same idea… that life rises above it all.



#79
Canadian rockers Tokyo Police Club know that all things are interconnected, and are amazed when one is able to harness distant pieces to capture an idea. The band has used that concept to create something pretty amazing themselves. On their shoe, concentric circles etched into the leather upper form systems through space… clearly connected, across the world.




#81
For nearly two decades, the Cannanes have defied the music industry status quo with their unique pop-rock sound and untraditional style. To this Aussie group, to redefine comes naturally. As original band member David Nichols puts it, "I want people to see that change is possible through democracy, agitation and advocacy." His 1HUND(RED) inspiration comes from that belief in the power of the people.




As always, a portion of the profits from every Converse (PRODUCT) RED shoe is contributed directly to the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
Choose your favorites at converse.com... but don’t forget to spread the cheer to friends and family too. By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

STARBUCKS (RED) Is Already Saving Lives. The (RED) team is excited to show our support for our newest partner, (STARBUCKS). The purchase of each (STARBUCKS) RED EXCLUSIVE beverage contributes 5 cents directly to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

And the numbers are really adding up! In just the few weeks that the drinks have been available your purchases have helped generate a contribution to the Global Fund that can provide more than 1.4 million days of antiretroviral therapy for people who need it. This means 3800 people living with HIV could get a year’s worth of medicine, all because of you making a simple choice at your favorite coffee shop.

Thank you to everyone who has helped mark this historic launch of our partnership - we couldn’t have done it without you. And keep buying STARBUCKS (PRODUCT) RED to do something good every day.

If you haven’t been there already make sure to check out www.starbucks.com/red where you can join the Starbucks community and pledge your commitment to purchasing the (STARBUCKS) RED EXCLUSIVE beverages this holiday season. And once you’re there be sure to join the (RED) team in uploading your favorite photo - capturing you to the power of (RED) too!

By noreply@blogger.com (Max).

(RED) University Ambassadors Update. As the New Year and the 2009 Spring Semester starts, we’d like to share how our (RED) University Ambassadors spread the (RED) message across their campuses – culminating in great World AIDS Day events on all. Take a look!


At the Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin – Madison and Harvard, weeklong symposiums were held that explained the AIDS epidemic in Africa and how (RED) works. Students hosted speaker series, were featured in their campus newspapers and on campus radio, set up info tables, held film screenings and participated in concerts.

Thanks to Simon at Notre Dame, Jordyn at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Tian at Harvard for all of their hard work!



http://ndasonegoesred.blogspot.com/


http://makeuwred.blogspot.com/


http://www.harvardempowered.blogspot.com/



At North Carolina A &T, Stephanie had a hugely successful (PRODUCT)RED fashion show that showcased a wide range of the (PRODUCT)RED products and featured performances by the models. So many ‘Aggies’ came out to attend that it was standing room only and even then it became so crowded, the fire department had to turn people away!

Stephanie is a sophomore - and a born and bred North Carolinian! Thanks Stephanie!

http://stephaniered.blogspot.com/


In San Diego, Kelsey set up shop for the day in the busy quad area of San Diego State’s massive campus, and engaged with hundreds of students all day long, showing them what (PRODUCT)RED items they could purchase, and even getting them to pose in her ‘bracket’ banner!

Kelsey is native to California and is a sophomore at San Diego State University, thanks Kelsey!


http://sdsugoesred.blogspot.com/


At Sacred Heart, in addition to hosting speakers - and being a featured speaker himself - Mike and his team arranged a (RED) shopping trip to various locations – Gap, Hallmark, Starbucks -- where they encouraged fellow students and holiday shoppers in their community to choose (PRODUCT)RED.

Mike is a junior at Sacred Heart working on a degree in international business. Thanks Mike!


http://joinredshu.wordpress.com/


A big shout out to all our (RED) Ambassadors! They helped (RED) connect one-on-one: to give people a chance to hear about how (RED) works, ask questions and understand how the simplest purchase decision can help make a difference, a big difference, for someone living with HIV in Africa.

We look forward to what our ambassadors will do this Spring and can’t wait to update you on their progress! By noreply@blogger.com (Max).