(RED) Auction Raises US$46 Million for Global Fund
27 November 2013
NEW YORK – An auction organized by (RED) on 23 November combined with new contributions has raised US$46 million to fight AIDS through the Global Fund.
The auction, held in Sotheby’s in New York and attended by leaders in the entertainment industry, celebrated design and innovation and auctioned items curated by Sir Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson in collaboration with musician and activist Bono.
The sale gave the attendees an opportunity to purchase a number of specially designed items, which included a Leica Digital Rangefinder Camera that sold for US$1.8 million and an aluminum desk produced by Neal Feay Studio, auctioned for US$1.7 million.
At the end of the night, items sold at auction totalled US$13 million, which was matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The amount also unlocked an additional US$20 million from the U.S. and UK, signaling the leverage of every pledge and bringing the total raised to US$46 million.
Mark Dybul, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, thanked (RED) and the designers for their leadership and creativity in galvanizing resources for the fight against HIV.
“I am tremendously encouraged by the innovativeness and passion that created not only amazing objects but also contributed to the future of millions of people that have been affected by HIV,” Dr. Dybul said.
The Global Fund strongly welcomes the participation of private sector and high net-worth individuals in raising funds for the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Over the years, (RED) has raised more than US$ 244 million for the Global Fund to support HIV & AIDS grants in Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania. Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted more than 14 million people with prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services.