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A young, black, professional, Spelman College and UNC Law grad, and new mommy who practices law in the Chicago suburbs.

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Gap (PRODUCT) RED

October 27th, 2006 • Related • Filed Under

Been to a Gap store lately and noticed a new look? There are new t-shirts popping up in Gap stores across the globe as part of a campaign to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Product Red is an initiative begun by rock singer Bono and Bobby Shriver of DATA (Debt AIDS Trade in Africa) to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Shriver is CEO of Product Red. The initiative was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 26, 2006. Gap has described the new initiative: “How we do business is as important as what we do. Gap Product Red takes what we do best—creating great products that people love—and channels it into positive change. In addition to sharing Gap (Product) Red profits with the Global Fund, we’re also investing in Africa by making some of our products there.”
In support of Product Red, Gap is creating a special RED collection, starting with an iconic t-shirt manufactured in Africa from 100 percent African cotton. It comes in red, of course, plus a range of other classic colors. The T-shirt debuted in the UK in spring 2006. An expanded Gap Product Red collection was made available in Gap stores around the world and online at gap.com/red on October 13, 2006. Other launch partners include American Express, Apple, Converse, Emporio Armani, and Motorola.

Bono was on Oprah last week promoting the collection and he and Oprah ventured out to “paint the town red” and visit all the stores that are participating in the Product Red initiative.

The reason for this major project is very apparent. Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 24.5 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2005 and approximately 2.7 million new infections occurred during that year. In just the past year the epidemic has claimed the lives of an estimated 2 million people in this region. More than twelve million children have been orphaned by AIDS. This epidemic is very serious and Product Red is a powerful effort that will hopefully be very successful in raising money for mothers and children living with AIDS in Africa. Be sure to support by purchasing a Product Red item online or in stores.

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