Bono

Bono’s (RED) Charity has come up with a new way to raise funds — with a new music delivery system. People will have the option to pay $5 monthly for the service, and each week they’ll receive an exclusive (RED) song from a popular artist, a song from an artist new to the music scene, a “Crackerjack surprise” which will be something fun and non-musical, like a video, text, or image, as well as stories of how the money donated is making a difference.

Some of the top brands in the world have created (RED) products, which altogether have generated over $110 million. With the new music download system, half of each month’s membership fee will go directly to the Global Fund, which means that just five subscribers will provide enough money each year to provide antiretroviral treatment for a year to someone living with HIV.

In case you’re not yet familiar with Bono’s (RED) charity and (PRODUCT) RED, let me fill you in. The primary objective is “to engage the private sector in raising awareness and money for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.” The companies that take part in (PRODUCT) RED give a substantial portion of sales or profits from a particular product to the Global Fund.

The new music delivery system isn’t actually available until next month, but you can pre-register (and get more information about the (RED) charity) at joinred.com.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

You know he’s amazing on the soccer field, and you’ve seen how great he looks as an Armani underwear model, but would you ever have thought that David Beckham is also a mountain climber? Technically, he’s not, but he has agreed to become one to benefit UNICEF.

This all came about because of U2’s Bono, who asked David to take on the challenge. David agreed to the intense six-day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in order to raise money for the charity UNICEF.

No date has been set just yet, but a source close to the Beckhams stated, “The 19,340 peak is a bit outside David’s normal comfort zone but he is absolutely set on making the climb. Not date has been fixed yet because David is very busy with his LA Galaxy commitments, but he is absolutely set on doing it.” In addition to finding the time, he also needs to get some insurance issues finalized.

Apparently, David was hesitant at first (which is understandable), but he soon found out, like so many celebrities before him have learned, that Bono is extraordinarily persuasive.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Most of us know that Bono, singer for the music group U2, is a world-renowned humanitarian. An activist on many levels, Bono is the co-founder of EDUN, the ONE Campaign, Product Red, and DATA. According to his Wikipedia entry, he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, granted an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom, and was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine.

And now he’s designed a fish shirt.

It might not be his biggest accomplishment, but Bono’s t-shirt design for Hard Rock Cafe’s Signature Series clothing line will raise money for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Conservation Cotton initiative. Fifteen percent of the proceeds will help to life African farmers out of poverty by educating them about managing land, growing organic cotton, and conserving wildlife.

The t-shirt shows a fish and the moon, and says, “Fish Can Fly.” It also sports Bono’s signature. You can purchase the t-shirt at the Hard Rock Cafe website, or, if you don’t really dig this design but would still like to support Bono’s causes, you can shop EDUN’s site.

Bono picture courtesy of u2_inspire.tripod.com, t-shirt picture courtesy of HardRock.com