Apple thus far has helped raise over $65 million in fight against AIDS
Apple to date has helped raise more than US$65 million in the fight against AIDS through the (Product) RED initiative which was founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver back in 2006.
The news comes courtesy of a tweet from the official (Product) RED Twitter account.
Bono at #CGI2013 on @RED partners: "Apple is certainly leading the crew" Thank you Apple for raising over $65 million to fight AIDS.
- (RED) (@RED) September 26, 2013
TechCrunch adds:
(RED) announced early today that its partner Apple had helped it raise more than $65 million to finance programs which include prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services. The announcement was made by U2 singer Bono at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting.
TechCrunch was also able to field an official quote from a (RED) spokesperson who said that Apple's help has enabled "the Global Fund to finance the AIDS fight on the ground in Africa. This work is absolutely critical to ending AIDS."
A listing of Apple's (Product) RED merchandise can be found here. Every time one of these products is purchased, a portion of the proceeds is given to the fight against AIDS.
In a 2011 letter to the New York Times, U2 frontman Bono defended Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' ostensible lack of public charity, pointing out that Apple was (RED)'s "largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria" and that the company's involvement has encouraged other companies to participate in the program.
Bono also relayed that when Bono first approached Jobs about the (Product) RED initiative, Jobs responded, "There is nothing better than the chance to save lives."
