Apple dresses up stores with red logos, employees wear red shirts for World AIDS Day
Apple on Thursday tinted red the iconic backlit logos installed outside brick-and-mortar stores around the world, continuing a long-standing tradition in support of World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1.
Fifth Avenue Apple store logo dressed in red. | Source: Instagram user way2sexy4u
As in years past, more than 400 Apple outlets from New York to China are now fronted with red signage, while employees inside wear red shirts instead of the standard blue uniform.
The changes commemorate Apple's partnership with the Project(RED) charity, an initiative cofounded by U2's Bono to raise awareness and funds to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Apple, along with a number of other major product makers and retailers, creates special Product(RED) branded items and donates a portion of the purchase price to The Global Fund.
Apple first collaborated with the charity in 2006, later mandating the annual store logo color change in 2012.
This year Apple launched a few new accessories and special edition devices as part of the effort. Headlining the 2016 Product(RED) lineup are red versions of the Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones and Pill+ Bluetooth speaker. Apple is also marketing a red iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case and red leather-backed iPhone SE Case.
In addition to hardware, the company is donating $1 -- up to a cap of $1 million -- for every Apple Pay transaction made at an Apple store, on Apple.com, or through the Apple Store app from now through Dec. 6. Bank of America is making an identical pledge for every Apple Pay transaction involving its various credit cards.
For its digital stores, Apple partnered with app makers to deliver (RED) branded in-app purchases for 20 popular games, while iTunes is accepting direct donations. Music act The Killers is also donating proceeds of its holiday album "Don't Waste Your Wishes" and their cover of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to the (RED) initiative.
Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview this week defended the company's Product (RED) promotions against assertions that the charitable partnership was born out of pure self-interest.
"We'll always help the most people through our products, because they empower people to do great things themselves," Cook said. "But this (RED) partnership allows us to touch a group of people we normally wouldn't. Sub-Saharan Africa is not a big marketplace for us. This is about trying to lift people up."
Fifth Avenue Apple store logo dressed in red. | Source: Instagram user way2sexy4u
As in years past, more than 400 Apple outlets from New York to China are now fronted with red signage, while employees inside wear red shirts instead of the standard blue uniform.
The changes commemorate Apple's partnership with the Project(RED) charity, an initiative cofounded by U2's Bono to raise awareness and funds to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Apple, along with a number of other major product makers and retailers, creates special Product(RED) branded items and donates a portion of the purchase price to The Global Fund.
Apple first collaborated with the charity in 2006, later mandating the annual store logo color change in 2012.
This year Apple launched a few new accessories and special edition devices as part of the effort. Headlining the 2016 Product(RED) lineup are red versions of the Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones and Pill+ Bluetooth speaker. Apple is also marketing a red iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case and red leather-backed iPhone SE Case.
In addition to hardware, the company is donating $1 -- up to a cap of $1 million -- for every Apple Pay transaction made at an Apple store, on Apple.com, or through the Apple Store app from now through Dec. 6. Bank of America is making an identical pledge for every Apple Pay transaction involving its various credit cards.
For its digital stores, Apple partnered with app makers to deliver (RED) branded in-app purchases for 20 popular games, while iTunes is accepting direct donations. Music act The Killers is also donating proceeds of its holiday album "Don't Waste Your Wishes" and their cover of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to the (RED) initiative.
Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview this week defended the company's Product (RED) promotions against assertions that the charitable partnership was born out of pure self-interest.
"We'll always help the most people through our products, because they empower people to do great things themselves," Cook said. "But this (RED) partnership allows us to touch a group of people we normally wouldn't. Sub-Saharan Africa is not a big marketplace for us. This is about trying to lift people up."
Comments
Everyone holding hands and singing kumbayya does not make a lot of page views, I am afraid. I am fairly sure that AI owners and editors know that.
When I feel misery, I read sog35's rants. It's like a therapy to see how miserable one can be. /s
I also unwittingly donated to this effort today, since I paid by Apple Pay in a few stores that I visited. I have a Bank of America CC, but I didn't use that today, so I guess that I didn't end up double donating at least.
The main problem is culture, ignorance and stupidity, and simply throwing money at culturally backwards and bankrupt regions of the world is not going to have much of any impact.
I just wonder how how much help Apple is actually providing.
Theyd make a bigger impact donating those proceeds to some of the good churches with people dedicating their lives to help people in every way.
researching some of the criticism of this initiative only reinforces my thinking.
Still, at least they are doing something.
I am not a fan of organized religions but in some cases churches are the only organizations helping people in need in nations who governments spend more money on military and zero on the health of its citizens.
You mean the way my Liberal tax dollars go to supporting trainer trash Trump supporters?
Heck, it looks as if Apple isn't even in the top 20
http://fortune.com/2016/06/22/fortune-500-most-charitable-companies/
Or in the top 25
25 of the most generous companies in America
http://www.businessinsider.com/most-generous-companies-in-america-2015-2016-6/#25-mondelez-international-1