Apple Marks World AIDS Day With 15 Years of Partnership With PRODUCT(RED)

Apple is celebrating 15 years of its partnership with (RED).

Apple has today marked World AIDS Day, revealing its customers have helped raise some $270 million USD in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Over the past 15 years, Apple customers have played a critical role in (RED)’s fight to end AIDS through support to the Global Fund, which provides critical access to healthcare services in communities most in need in sub-Saharan Africa. As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, including those living with HIV, the fight to end global pandemics is more urgent than ever.

To honor World AIDS Day this year, Apple is offering new ways for customers to learn, engage, and donate — raising funds and awareness to support people on the front lines of both AIDS and COVID-19.

Apple says customers since 2006 have helped raise nearly $270 million USD, enabling care and support over 11 million people, providing more than 192 million HIV tests, and giving 13.8 million access to antiretroviral treatments. Apple says that last year alone Apple’s support for (RED) helped prevent 145,000 HIV-positive mothers from passing on the virus to their children.

Apple also highlighted how it had helped fight against the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities, redirecting some donations to Global Fund and its COVID-19 response:

Apple customers were able to help fund programs that mitigated the impact of COVID-19 on existing HIV/AIDS programs. In Zambia, local clinics were able to purchase motorbikes that were used to deliver lifesaving HIV treatment to local communities when in-person visits declined due to COVID-19. This year, support from Apple and its customers helped fund programs in Ghana that gave medical providers the resources to procure bulk supplies so they could make multi-month deliveries to those most at risk, reducing their potential exposure to viral infection.

Speaking to Apple’s contribution, (RED)’s Chief Impact Officer Luisa Engel said: “Had the groundwork not been laid for fighting HIV over the last two decades by the Global Fund and contributing partners like Apple, so much of what we’re doing today to address larger healthcare issues, including COVID-19, would not be possible.”

To help support the end of HIV, AIDS, and COVID-19, Apple is offering a range of new (PRODUCT)RED devices and accessories this holiday season, including the iPhone 13 (PRODUCT)RED, the iPhone 13 mini (PRODUCT)RED, and the Apple Watch Series 7 (PRODUCT)RED.

Also from December 1, Apple Watch users can download six new (RED) faces. Apple Books, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and the Apple TV app also feature a wide range of content on the topic.

According to Apple, a portion of the proceeds from every (PRODUCT)RED purchase goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS. Until the end of next year, half of the eligible proceeds from (PRODUCT)RED purchases will be redirected to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on the fight to end AIDS.