Apple Sells New Red iPhone 7 in Support of (RED)

    By Isaiah BryantPublished: May 11, 2017Leave a Comment

    BANGKOK, THAILAND – April 22, 2017: Top view of a hand holding the new iPhone 7 Plus on its back, with accessories and package box.

    On Friday, March 24, Apple released a new iPhone 7 with a red finish in honor of its decade-long partnership with (RED). With the purchase of any red iPhone, Apple will donate a portion of the profits to the fight against AIDS, which has been (RED)’s mission since its start in 2006.

    Since 1981, 35 million lives have been taken by AIDS. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that causes immune deficiency and can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, class or sexual preference. The disease can be passed down from mothers to their children at birth, this is has been happening in startling numbers, and in the United States, an un-proportional amount of people diagnosed with AIDS are homosexual men, especially in communities of color. In 2006, Bobo and Bobby Shriver founded (RED), with the mission to make it easy and affordable to get treatment against the AIDS virus. So far, (RED) has raised 465 million dollars along with the help of their partners. (RED) works by partnering with government, the private sector and civil society to create products. When consumers buy these products, up to 50% of the purchase goes to the Global Fund (not to (RED) ). The Global Fund uses 100% of the money donated to fight HIV/AIDS, with no overhead.

    The red iPhone is available in both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models. They can be purchased up front for $749 or $869 for the Plus, or a plan can be set up with your carrier. They are available now on Apple’s website for online purchase.

    By partnering with (RED), Apple has helped generate $130 million to combat AIDS over the last decade, and this new partnership is sure to generate even more. Despite the fact that a fair amount of money is sure to be raised, there is a bit of controversy around the product because Apple has refused to say exactly how much of the proceeds from each phone are going to (RED), though Apple has said that they have been (RED)’s biggest sponsor.

    “That [The red iPhone 7] is a great thing,” FHN junior Madelynn Wood said. “It can raise awareness for something. The iPhone is so popular, everyone wants the newest phone and it can raise money quick.”