2013-05-24T10:57:50-04:00 Chrysi Philalithes http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=chrysi-philalithes Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Chrysi Philalithes Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1563587 2012-06-01T19:12:26-04:00 2012-08-01T05:12:19-04:00

Chrysi Philalithes http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chrysi-philalithes/
1,000 babies are born with HIV every day. By 2015, that number can be close to zero.

(RED)RUSH TO ZERO is the new initiative from (RED) that runs from June 1st to 10th and there are lots of different and fun ways for people to get involved to help end the transmission of HIV from moms to their babies. From music to social media and from gaming to driving, (RED)RUSH is tapping in to peoples' passion points and creativity to raise awareness and funds. Here are 10 ways to help fight AIDS during the 10 days of (RED)RUSH:

1.Buy a (RED) product and your choice will trigger the (RED) partner brand to contribute part of the proceeds from the sale to help fight AIDS. So when you're shopping for an iPod nano at Apple why not choose the (RED) one, or the (RED) headphones from Beats by Dr. Dre -- it costs you exactly the same as the non-(RED) version.

2. Check-in to (RED) partner Starbucks on foursquare and they'll donate $1 to help fight AIDS (up to $250,000/U.S. and Canada only). (RED) partners Bugaboo & Penfolds are also donating on check-ins at select retailers -- click here to find out where.

3. Play in The (RED)RUSH Games. It's the biggest video game tournament around -- so pick up your Xbox or PlayStation and play to win prizes and prestige all while fighting for an AIDS FREE GENERATION.

4. Bid on a (RED)ROWS concert ticket. Coldplay, The Killers, Tim McGraw, Death Cab for Cutie are all offering special (RED) tickets for sale to their shows with proceeds to the fight.

5. Get the first track from the forthcoming (RED) HOT + FELA album - 'Lady' by tUnE-yArDs, Angelique Kidjo and Questlove. Exclusively on iTunes.

6. Sponsor one of the 70 women who are driving across Europe to raise money for the fight in the Cash & Rocket (RED) Tour.

7. Give an INSPI(RED) T-shirt as a gift to a friend.

8. Spread the word! Tell your friends about #REDRUSH on Twitter & Facebook. Just cut, paste and post this message:

1,000 babies are born with HIV every day. By 2015, that could be near zero. #REDRUSH TO ZERO June 1st to 10th. http://www.redrush.com @joinRED

9. Watch and share the new (RED) video.

10. Friend (RED) on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with how you can help fight AIDS.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.736603 2010-09-23T14:01:24-04:00 2011-05-25T17:50:22-04:00

Chrysi Philalithes http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chrysi-philalithes/ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). When the goals were set, the words 'social media' did not live side by side. In 2000, Mark Zuckerburg was just 16 and it would take Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams another six years to launch Twitter.

On Monday while world leaders met, so did hundreds of people -- both physically and virtually -- for the Mashable & UN Foundation 'Social Good Summit' which discussed how social media can be used to achieve the MDGs.

From Facebook and Twitter turning (RED) on World AIDS Day to Ashton Kutcher and CNNs support for malaria with their race to one million Twitter followers, every day people are using the social networks to help change the world.

Today, Thursday September 23rd is #SocialGood Day. (RED) has partnered with Mashable to encourage people to meet up and discuss how social media can be used for social good. We're interested in unleashing fresh thinking around how social media can raise awareness and create solutions for the social issues they care about. And we're also asking people to think about how social media can be used to help spread the message that we can eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

If a woman is HIV positive, her access to ARV medication will significantly reduce the risk of passing on HIV/AIDS to her baby. We are currently at a critical moment where the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS by 2015 is within our reach. Imagine that for the first time since the AIDS epidemic, there is the possibility for an AIDS free generation to be born.

And as is the spirit of this week, it will happen by world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly meetings, social media gurus participating in Mashable and (RED)'s Social Good efforts, and you and me, acting to make it a reality. People will be meeting up on Thursday in Australia, Sri Lanka, France, UK and the U.S., to name just a few countries for #SocialGood Day.

Meet Up. Talk. Tweet. Post. I hope you'll join us for #SocialGood Day and show how social media is being used for social good.


Chrysi Philalithes is Digital Director at (RED), which was created to engage businesses and consumers to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Join (RED) at the NY & London Meet Ups they are attending.
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