The U2 rock star will also join Jonathan Ive, Apple’s SVP of Design for a conversation about (RED)’s impact and success (image: Bono at a concert, by Wikipedia)
LONDON, June 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The organisers of the 61st Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity are proud to honour Bono, the activist lead singer of Irish rock band U2, with the first ever Cannes LionHeart Award, for pioneering (RED), a creative fusion of branding, activism and philanthropy that has generated more than $250 million for the fight against AIDS in Africa.
The Cannes LionHeart recognises the person or organisation that, through innovative use of commercial brand power, has made a significant and positive difference to people or the planet.
Bono co-founded (RED) with Bobby Shriver in 2006 to engage businesses and consumers to raise money and awareness in the fight against AIDS. (RED) partners with the world’s most iconic brands, which contribute up to 50% of profits from (RED) branded goods and services to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services.
(RED) Proud Partners include: Apple, Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, Beats by Dr. Dre, Belvedere, Claro, SAP, Telcel and Live Nation Entertainment. (RED) Special Edition partners include: Jonathan Adler, Theory, HEAD, Kidrobot, Mophie, FEED, Sir Richard’s Condom Company, Shazam, Square, Girl Skateboards, Nanda Home, Bottletop, Fatboy USA and Bed Bath & Beyond.
To date, (RED) has generated more than $250 million for the Global Fund to support HIV/AIDS grants in Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. 100% of that money goes to work on the ground – no overhead is taken. The Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted more than 40 million people with prevention, treatment, counselling, HIV testing and care services.
(RED) is a division of The ONE Campaign, a global advocacy organisation which campaigns for government leaders to support programs and policies that save lives and improve futures in the poorest parts of the world. Also cofounded by Bono, ONE is nonpartisan and has more than 4 million members around the world.
Together, ONE and (RED) are stronger than the sum of their parts. By increasing awareness of the Global Fund and the AIDS emergency, (RED) also helps ONE and other advocates ensure continued government support for The Global Fund.
“Bono has used his celebrity status to successfully establish a global brand, through which he has built unique relationships with other such brands, to raise awareness and funds for the fight against AIDS and achieve greater good for humankind,” says Terry Savage, Chairman of Lions Festivals.
“We are delighted and privileged that Bono will share his inspirational story with our Cannes Lions delegates and we look forward to presenting him with the first Cannes LionHeart in recognition of his achievements.”
Bono will be presented with the inaugural Cannes LionHeart, an honorary award presented in exceptional instances, on Saturday evening, 21 June, during the final awards ceremony of the festival week.
A Conversation with Bono and Jonathan Ive, moderated by Shane Smith
In an exclusive seminar for Cannes Lions delegates, Bono will join Jonathan Ive, Apple Inc’s Senior Vice President of Design, in a discussion moderated by Shane Smith, CEO and Founder of VICE Media, and introduced by Anne Finucane, Global Strategy and Marketing Officer of (RED) partner, Bank of America.
Bono and Jonathan Ive will discuss the success of (RED) and it’s unique collaboration with global partners – including Apple, (RED)’s largest corporate contributor to the AIDS fight – and the record-breaking (RED) Design Auction curated by Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson. The auction resulted in $44 million for the Global Fund on World AIDS Day last year. This exceptional session will be held at 15:15 hrs, Saturday, 21 June.
About Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
The International Festival of Creativity, also known as Cannes Lions, is the world’s leading celebration of creativity in communications. Founded in 1954, the Festival takes place every June in Cannes, France.
As the most prestigious international annual advertising and communications awards, over 35,500 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the Festival. Winning companies receive the highly coveted Lion trophy, a global benchmark of creative excellence, for Film, Print, Outdoor, Interactive, Radio, Design, Product Design, Promo & Activation, Film Craft, Mobile, Branded Entertainment and Integrated advertising, as well as the best Media, Direct, PR, Titanium, Creative Effectiveness and Innovation ideas.
The Festival is also the only truly global meeting place for advertisers, advertising and communication professionals. More than 12,000 delegates from 95 countries attend a week-long programme of exhibitions, screenings and talks by worldwide thought leaders. As the networking and learning opportunity of the year, Cannes Lions is the must-attend event for anyone involved in brand communications. For further information, please visitwww.canneslions.com.
About Lions Festivals
Lions Festivals is the organiser of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and Eurobest as well as co-organisers, with its joint venture partners, of Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity, Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity, Festival of Asian Marketing Effectiveness, and the Digital Asia Festival.www.lionsfestivals.com. Lions Festivals is powered by Top Right Group.
Source: Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (ACN Newswire)
