Bono recruits Julia Roberts and Channing Tatum for AIDS fight
NEW YORK -- If you donate at least $10 to Bono’s charity (RED), the singer is giving you a chance to drink tea with him and Julia Roberts, enjoy a private concert from U2 or party in Las Vegas with “Magic Mike” star Channing Tatum.
Those are three of the “experiences” donors can possibly win after giving money to (RED), which raises funds to fight AIDS. The campaign dubbed “(RED) SHOPATHAN,” in its second year, launched Tuesday, one week before World AIDS Day, which is Dec. 1.
“It is a battle now for funding. It’s just a street battle, pitch battle, and we have to keep this stuff in the news or literally those people don’t get the drugs. It’s that simple,” Bono said in an interview with The Associated Press last week. “We have to just remind people that America has led the war on this tiny little virus and is winning the war, but it is unthinkable, but it is possible, that if we stall on funding then we start to undo all this good work.”
Other “experiences” that can be earned after donating on Omaze.com/RED include a night out with Neil Patrick Harris, tickets to see Broadway’s “Hamilton” and backstage access with show star Javier Munoz, a Snapchat and jet ski adventure with DJ Khaled and a studio hangout with One Direction’s Liam Payne.
Entries close on January 18, 2017.
Last year’s campaign offered donors a visit to the set of “Game of Thrones,” walking a red carpet with Meryl Streep and spending time with George Clooney.
“This is a really hopeful campaign and we try to be playful, we try not to bring anyone down, but actually the politics behind it is very serious. And the money we raise will keep people alive,” Bono said.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the (RED) campaign, which Bono said has raised more than $360 million and impacted 70 million people through HIV testing, prevention, counseling and other services.
“This is a big deal in my life,” he said.