(RED) today announced that this World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009, partners including Starbucks Coffee Company, Gap and Dell will make special increased contributions "(RED) gives shoppers a way to give great holiday gifts and give back at the same time. Every purchase contributes to the fight against AIDS in Africa.

To date, this has resulted in contributions of $140 million to the Global Fund and has supported programs that have reached more than 4 million people with testing, counseling and medication,” said Susan Smith Ellis, CEO, (RED). “These efforts not only strengthen national AIDS programs to increase access to treatment, but truly transform lives as people gain access to medicine, regain strength and can return to being active children, parents, workers and community leaders.”

Beyond the (RED) pop-up shops, (PRODUCT)RED items are available in more than 60 countries– giving shoppers a variety of ways to give great gifts while giving back this holiday season. A portion of the profit or sales from all (PRODUCT)RED items goes directly to the Global Fund to help fund AIDS programs in Africa.

Click here to view the full list of (RED) holiday products.

About (RED)™ and (PRODUCT)RED™

(RED)’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT)RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express (U.K. only), Apple, Bugaboo, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Dell, and Starbucks. Since its launch in the Spring of 2006, $140 million has been generated by (RED) for the Global Fund. (RED) money is at work in Swaziland, Rwanda, Ghana and Lesotho. For more information, visit http://www.joinred.com/

About The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the dominant financer of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US $15.6 billion for programs in 140 countries. The Global Fund supports programs based on agreed performance targets and disburses money in response to proven results. At the end of July 2009, programs supported by the Global Fund have averted more than 4 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people, TB treatment for 5.4 million people, and by the distribution of 88 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria worldwide. For more information visit http://www.theglobalfund.org.