(RED), U2 and Bank of America Partner to Fight AIDS

Partnership will deliver more than $10 million to fight AIDS and launch with free download of new U2 song debuting during Super Bowl

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- (RED), rock group U2 and Bank of America today announced a partnership that will generate more than $10 million to fight AIDS. Details are available at 

The partnership will kick off with a commercial during the February 2 Super Bowl that will feature U2 performing a new song, "Invisible." The song will be available as a limited edition release on iTunes for free download during the game and for the following 24 hours. For every download during that timeframe, Bank of America will donate $1, up to $2 million total, to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which provides life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment, testing and prevention services to tens of millions of people in the world's poorest countries.

(RED) has already generated more than $240 million for the Global Fund since being founded in 2006 by U2 lead singer Bono and Bobby Shriver in order to drive corporate donations to the fight against AIDS. The additional funding from Bank of America will help (RED) surpass a quarter billion dollars raised.

Bono said, "Bank of America coming on as a (RED) partner to help the Global Fund's efforts to eliminate AIDS is great news.  It's the kind of game-changing influence that will not just deliver millions of dollars but raise consciousness and keep public pressure on putting an end to this devastating pandemic which has already taken the lives of 35 million people.  And just in...the bank's commitment of $10 million has resulted in the Gates Foundation, SAP and Africa's Motsepe Family matching for a total of $22 million.  Incredible."

Key to the success of this initiative will be raising awareness among Bank of America's vast customer base and more than 240,000 employees, and providing opportunities for them to take action at this critical moment in the global effort to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. Bank of America serves one in two U.S. households with a network of approximately 5,100 retail banking offices and 16,300 ATMs, has one of the most visited websites in the world, and more than 30 million online banking users and 14 million mobile users.

Brian Moynihan, CEO, Bank of America, said, "Just as we dedicate all of our resources to serving customers and clients in the U.S. and around the world, we can bring these capabilities to (RED) and the global health community in the fight against AIDS. Most importantly, we're encouraging our customers and employees to join the fight."

(RED) funds are fighting AIDS in eight African countries – Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia – and are used to support HIV/AIDS grants which provide treatment, testing and prevention and care services, with a focus on ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV and achieving an AIDS-free generation. Of the more than $240 million generated by (RED), 100 percent has gone directly to the Global Fund for on-the-ground services, with no overhead taken out by (RED). (RED) and its partners – from Bank of America, to Starbucks, Apple and more – are united in a global push to end mother-to-child transmission of the deadly HIV virus by 2015, in accordance with the UN Millennium Development Goals . 

Mark Dybul, executive director, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said, "We'd like to thank Bank of America, (RED) and U2 for this innovative partnership to deliver much-needed funds and awareness to our fight to eliminate AIDS. This partnership will have a tremendous impact over the coming years." 

About (RED) ™

(RED) was founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage businesses and people in the fight against AIDS.

(RED) partners with the world's most iconic brands who contribute up to 50% of profits from (RED) branded goods and services to the Global Fund. (RED) Proud Partners include: Apple, Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company, Beats by Dr. Dre, Belvedere, Claro, SAP, Telcel and Live Nation Entertainment. (RED) Special Edition partners include: Jonathan Adler, Theory, HEAD, Kidrobot, Mophie, FEED, Sir Richard's Condom Company, Shazam, Girl Skateboards, Nanda Home, Bottletop, Fatboy USA and Bed Bath & Beyond.

To date, (RED) has generated more than $240 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to support HIV/AIDS grants in Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. 100 percent of that money goes to work on the ground – no overhead is taken. Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted more than 40 million people with prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services.

(RED) is a division of The ONE Campaign. 

Learn more at  red.org.

About the Global Fund

The Global Fund is an international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. The Global Fund promotes partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the most effective way to help reach those in need. This innovative approach relies on country ownership and performance-based funding, meaning that people in countries implement their own programs based on their priorities and the Global Fund provides financing where verifiable results are achieved.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has supported more than 1,000 programs in more than 140 countries, providing AIDS treatment for 6.1 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 11.2 million people and 360 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts in dealing with the three diseases.

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 50 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,100 retail banking offices and approximately 16,300 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users and more than 14 million mobile users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock BAC +0.06% is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

SOURCE (RED)

Copyright (C) 2014 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

U2 Single "Invisible"

Just in from U2.com "There's been some online buzz this week about what the band have been up to in LA. Here's the scoop. It's all about a new song called 'Invisible', a track the band will be releasing as part of an initiative with (RED) to support the fight against AIDS. Everybody's really excited about the song and the band have been shooting the video in LA."

Bono visits Washington

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Bono / U2TOURFANS

Bono will appeal to Democrats and Republicans during a visit to Washington this week to spare U.S. development assistance programs from cuts as Congress tries to avert the looming "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and spending reductions early next year.

he U2 lead singer's visit comes as the Obama administration and congressional leaders try to forge a deal in coming weeks to avoid the economy hitting the "fiscal cliff" - tax increases and spending cuts worth $600 billion starting in January if Congress does not act.

Analysts say the absence of a deal could shock the United States, the world's biggest economy, back into recession.

Kathy McKiernan, spokeswoman for the ONE Campaign, said Bono will hold talks with congressional lawmakers and senior Obama administration officials during the November 12-14 visit.

During meetings he will stress the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance programs and the need to preserve them to avoid putting at risk progress made in fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, she said.

Bono, a long-time advocate for the poor, will argue that U.S. government-funded schemes that support life-saving treatments for HIV/AIDS sufferers, nutrition programs for malnourished children, and emergency food aid make up just 1 percent of the U.S. government budget but are helping to save tens of millions of lives in impoverished nations.

The One Campaign would not elaborate which lawmakers and senior Obama administration officials Bono will meet.

Amnesty International and U2 Fans

Eric Shivvers Chicago :

When U2 played here in Chicago two nights ago, I was asked to take some pictures of the show and I did. Yeah, I have a great shot of Larry playing his djembe and a couple of the Edge, both of which will make great mementos but as I stood against the rail behind the stage taking in the show, I turned around and observed a group of One campaigners and Amnesty International volunteers lining up to go onstage.  I thought to myself, if Bono Edge, Adam and Larry are the generals of philanthropy and we are the army of followers, then these are the lieutenants. Night in and night out on this tour, local volunteers give up their time to sign up us fans for these causes. Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry know that we are a community of good-hearted people, willing to join a cause they promote. 

As stage crew handed out the props that these good Samaratins were going to walk with onstage, I knew this would be the one photograph that no one else would take. The smiling happy volunteers were excited to go onstage, even if it was just to stand for five minutes or so, representing their great organizations. It didn’t matter that they weren’t going to play along with Edge or sing with Bono. What they were doing was more important. They were speaking to us in silence for those who don’t have a voice. The people they represent are the AIDS patient waiting to die in a hospital in Central Africa or a political prisoner such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Both of whom need these organizations to set justice straight.

I thought it was a little camp the first time I witnessed this on the 360 tour, but after seeing their smiling faces in these pictures, I have greater respect for this spectacle during the show. U2 keeps teaching me something new about the world every time they go out on the road. With these volunteers and our passion for the band, we have made a difference. Aung San Suu Kyi was finally freed from house arrest and 4 million lives were saved from AIDS with anti-retroviral drugs. These two accomplishments came from rock stars that didn’t have to take up these causes, but they did and they made a believer out of me when I joined their army 25+ years ago.   

In closing, these pictures will never grace the entertainment section of the Chicago Tribune, but the opportunity to represent their cause for five minutes onstage will last a lifetime. They will tell their friends and family about standing shoulder to shoulder with U2 on a hot July night in 2011. There may be no photographs of witness to their triumph but that’s okay. They are volunteers who will slip back into their day-today world unrecognized as the rockers they shared the stage with, but recognized, through their passion, as the keepers of the flame, telling us that we can change the world one U2 fan at a time.

Bono says financial woes hurting AIDS fight

U2 TOUR FANS 360 Show SYDNEY (Reuters) - Financial tough times in developed economies are undercutting efforts to stop the global spread of AIDS, U2 lead singer Bono said on Tuesday.

“Times are hard in the Western world,” the Irish rock star and campaigner told Reuters after launching World Aids Day, marked around the world on December 1, at Sydney’s Opera House.

Bono said agencies established to arrest acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) “were fighting hard for funding” nearly three decades after the disease was first diagnosed.

He added that more money was needed to meet a target set by the Global Fund to eliminate the transmission of HIV from pregnant mothers to their unborn children by 2015.

According to the United Nations children’s fund UNICEF, over a thousand babies are born each day in Africa with HIV and about half of the HIV-positive women in Africa do not get the drugs they need to prevent transmission of the virus to their babies.

“In recessionary times, people have to tell their politicians this is important to them,” Bono said.

An estimated 33.3 million people worldwide had the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS in 2009, according to the latest figures issued by UNAIDS. There were 26.2 million in 1999.

There is no cure and no commercially available vaccine but combinations of drugs called antiretrovirals can keep patients healthy. However, the virus stays in the body forever and can reactivate if people stop taking the drugs.

“Some people think that the pandemic is on its way out and it’s job done,” Bono said. “It is really not so.”

(Reporting by James Regan, editing by Mike Collett-White and Paul Casciato)



Bono News, Rumors and Tickets

Oprah Update: New Series Include Oprah’s Next Chapter, Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind, Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star, Gayle King Live! and Why Not? with Shania Twain

Jay-Z, Bono, Simon Cowell, Lorne Michaels, Toni Morrison and Condoleezza Rice Confirmed to Appear in Oprah Presents: Master Class 

Oprah Winfrey, chairman of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, today announces new original programming for the channel’s January 1, 2011, launch to members of the advertising and media communities at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. Five new series are joining the 10 previously announced, for a total of 15 original series coming to OWN.

Rumors: In recent days we have seen movement of the band at the studios in Dublin but no sighting of the band, only a few technical crew The technician said that U2  in 2011, the band will new concerts in Ireland and the United Kingdom, seen in 2010 will perform only festival Glastorbury as a headliner on June 25, this date is given as the only site U2.COM for 2010 in UK and Irish territory. This statement tends to confirm the rumors of recent months that they want a postponement of the new album ‘Song of Ascent’ </ strong. This news is a rumor and should be treated as such, any announcement by the official organs of the band will be reported as soon as possible *  U2Place.com

More Cash: Bono looks set to make a mint from the sale of troubled smart phone maker Palm.

Bono’s private equity company Elevation Partners is a major investor in the company currently seeking buyers. In December 2008, Elevation bought $100 million (£64.8 million) of Palm shares at $3.24 (£2.10) a pop to take its stake up to 41 per cent. These investments jumped up 32 percent in value last week to $5.16 (£3.34) a share.

Palm originally made PDA devices and recently launched the Pre and Pixi smartphones, as rivals to the iPhone. While the handsets received critical acclaim, sales have failed to match expectations. Palm has posted losses for the last 11 financial quarters, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Elevation bought a 25 percent stake in the firm in 2007 and helped install Jonathan Rubinstein, former head of Apple’s iPhone division, as chairman. The Irish rock star joined the US-based company shortly after its creation in 2004, when it was named after the U2 song.

While Bono is more associated with causes such as AIDS and debt relief, Elevation specialises in new media and entertainment with $1.9 billion (£1.23 billion) of assets under its control, the Telegraph reported. Last month, online publication 24/7 Wall Street called him the “worst investor in America” due to Elevation’s “unprecedented strong of disastrous investments.”

Tickets:  We want to be sure that everyone has had a chance to be updated on the promotion. We have launched on Monday. The details can be found here or on our facebook fan page. Two tickets to the show of your choice.