Apple's World AIDS Day campaign raised over $20M for (RED) foundation

Posted:
in General Discussion edited December 2014
In a note to employees sent out on Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the company donated more than $20 million to (PRODUCT) RED this quarter, in large part thanks to a World AIDS Day campaign featuring an Apps for (RED) promotion and a direct cut of Apple Store sales.



The Bono-backed RED foundation received a huge shot in the arm from Apple this quarter after the tech giant conducted various fundraising projects in its commitment to aid the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS, reports Re/code.

"I'm thrilled to announce that our total donation for this quarter will be more than $20 million -- our biggest ever -- bringing the total amount Apple has raised for (PRODUCT) RED to over $100 million," Cook said in an email to employees. "The money we've raised is saving lives and bringing hope to people in need. It's a cause we can all be proud to support."

Last month, Apple announced a series of special promotions as part of its 2015 World AIDS Day campaign, starting with the "Apps for (RED)" project that saw leading developers put exclusive content up for sale with proceeds going toward (RED)'s global fund. Apple kicked off the sale with its own (GarageBand)RED update that included hundreds of new loops for $0.99.

Apple also donated a portion of retail and online Apple Store sales to the Global Fund to fight AIDS over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two of the biggest shopping days of the year. For Black Friday, Apple doled out special (PRODUCT)RED iTunes Gift Cards with select purchases, each card representing an additional donation to the fund, while giving a direct slice of Cyber Monday sales to the fund.

On Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, Apple Stores tinted their iconic Apple logos red in recognition of millions of people currently living with AIDS, and in remembrance of the more than 35 million who have died from the virus.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13

    That's quite a laudable fundraiser. I'd still like to see a permanent spot in iTunes for donations to all kinds of charities and things.

  • Reply 2 of 13
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member

    It can't be long now until AIDS is cured. I actually expect in my lifetime to see all major diseases cured.

     

    Parties on both sides of the political divide argue over how to arrange the health system, whether it should it be more free market or more government controlled. But ultimately the solution to disease is not organizational but scientific. 

  • Reply 3 of 13

    Wow did Apple hit it out of the park when they went in with App developers to donate 100% of App and in-App purchases to Red this year.

     

    Since 2006 Apple has raised $70 million. This year they raised a whopping $20 million. That's a HUGE increase in donations from previous years.

  • Reply 4 of 13
    boredumbboredumb Posts: 1,418member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ascii View Post

     

    It can't be long now until AIDS is cured. I actually expect in my lifetime to see all major diseases cured.


    Well, all you have to do is stay alive...

    that's half the battle.;) 

  • Reply 5 of 13
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,192member

    OT: did u see the news that the Google Nest thermostat now has voice control? Who knew it had a microphone and was potentially monitoring everything said? Like the Amazon Echo, listening to the programs you watch (and when) and identifying them by audio signature, noting which commercials you stay quiet for and those you fast-forward through, your reactions to the ads, etc.

  • Reply 6 of 13
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Cpsro View Post

     

    OT: did u see the news that the Google Nest thermostat now has voice control? Who knew it had a microphone and was potentially monitoring everything said? Like the Amazon Echo, listening to the programs you watch (and when) and identifying them by audio signature, noting which commercials you stay quiet for and those you fast-forward through, your reactions to the ads, etc.




    A lot of newer TVs have Internet connections. I'm surprised the TVs themselves aren't beaming back show viewing stats.

  • Reply 7 of 13

    20 million?? EMBARRASSING!!!  This proves that RED is just a marketing gimmick. If they were really into fighting aids they would give more than that considering how much money they have.  

  • Reply 8 of 13
    gimarbazat wrote: »
    20 million?? EMBARRASSING!!!  This proves that RED is just a marketing gimmick. If they were really into fighting aids they would give more than that considering how much money they have.  

    "s/"?
  • Reply 9 of 13
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,192member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ascii View Post

     

    A lot of newer TVs have Internet connections. I'm surprised the TVs themselves aren't beaming back show viewing stats.


    That's why I would never (and have never) hooked a TV up to a LAN. (Update firmware via USB instead.) Years ago already, Samsung was called out for sending user data back to the mothership.

  • Reply 10 of 13
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    ascii wrote: »
    It can't be long now until AIDS is cured. I actually expect in my lifetime to see all major diseases cured.

    Parties on both sides of the political divide argue over how to arrange the health system, whether it should it be more free market or more government controlled. But ultimately the solution to disease is not organizational but scientific. 

    How is it that immunizations were developed left, and right decades ago, and now with much more knowledge we've been unable to develop any?
  • Reply 11 of 13
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post





    How is it that immunizations were developed left, and right decades ago, and now with much more knowledge we've been unable to develop any?

    I don’t know. Are you maybe going to say that medicine was freer back then, and the free market is better at innovation that the state, so there were more discoveries back then and fewer today?

     

    That could be the case, the free market is better at innovation. But maybe the reason for the holdup is that some new fundamental discoveries are required before we can progress further, such as a deeper understanding of genetics. And there is a place for government in fundamental research I think. If not in doing it themselves then at least in providing grants or prizes.

  • Reply 12 of 13
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    ascii wrote: »
    I don’t know. Are you maybe going to say that medicine was freer back then, and the free market is better at innovation that the state, so there were more discoveries back then and fewer today?

    That could be the case, the free market is better at innovation. But maybe the reason for the holdup is that some new fundamental discoveries are required before we can progress further, such as a deeper understanding of genetics. And there is a place for government in fundamental research I think. If not in doing it themselves then at least in providing grants or prizes.

    Healthy people aren't lucrative. :lol:
  • Reply 13 of 13

    I'd settle for just cancer.  I'm going to lose my Father any day now, ending what could have been a much longer and productive life.  Cancer has killed so many people...it just never really hits home until someone you love dies from it.

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