Irish musician Bono on Thursday is scheduled to film the U.S. launch of Product RED -- a project created by Bono and Bobby Shriver that aims to raise money for the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by donating a portion of profits from a range of branded products -- on the nationally syndicated "Oprah Winfrey Show," USA Today reports (Sternberg, USA Today, 10/12). American Express, Converse, Giorgio Armani and Gap were the initial partners in the program -- which was launched in January in the United Kingdom -- and are distributing credit cards and selling tennis shoes, sunglasses and T-shirts, respectively, carrying the Product RED label. The four partner companies have committed to the brand for five years and have pledged to give an average of 40% of profits from the products to the Global Fund. London's Independent in May announced that it would become the first media outlet to sign on as a partner in the project. In addition, Motorola in May announced that it will partner with Product RED. According to Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem, Product RED has raised more than $10 million in the U.K. from February through September. The funds generated from U.K. sales will be allocated to HIV testing and treatment services for HIV-positive women and children living in Rwanda and to supporting AIDS orphans in Swaziland, he said. Feachem on Friday announced that Product RED plans to partner with five additional corporations in the next few weeks (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/6). Bono, Oprah and other celebrities on Thursday plan to shop in downtown Chicago in an effort to enlist consumers, USA Today reports. According to Leslie Dance, vice president of marketing for Motorola, celebrities ---- including Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Garner, Chris Rock, Maria Shriver and Steven Spielberg -- will promote and represent various Product RED goods. The Product RED launch program will air on Friday (USA Today, 10/12).
well now I know what I want for Christmas!
A red iPod! That's what I want my wife to buy me for Christmas. Now, how to tell her?
If only I could figure out a way to get the message to Denise... hmmm... how could I pass along the hint?
Think... Think, think...
How, oh how, can I let her know?
Well, I guess I am out of luck...
Posted by: robert | October 13, 2006 at 01:24 PM
You may not get your red iPod, but your wife is going to get a lot of spam for Christmas...
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2006 at 01:30 PM
BTW - you can see Robert's iPod here.
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2006 at 01:43 PM
hmm... perhaps I'm being too subtle here...
HEATHER: PLEASE EMAIL MY WIFE AND TELL HER WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS.
Thank you.
Posted by: robert | October 14, 2006 at 07:43 AM
done....sorry - its been a terrible freaking week so i've just checked the comments now.........
i feel bad now...i asked for a video ipod for my birthday....can i feel better if i put a bigger donation in mikes pot or just go for the red one???? i just thought the video would be great for the digital pictures.............
hmmmm
Posted by: heather | October 21, 2006 at 12:33 PM