Students for the Power of (RED)
In support of the (RED) campaign and the Global Fund, this group's purpose is to spread the power of (RED) to other companies and help eliminate AIDS and other
diseases in Africa. We are currently working towards getting Starbucks and Jamba Juice involved by having them create a (RED) drink. By your support through letters/emails, we can hopefully convince them to create the drink and help support a better world.
Check out the news and discussion posts to get more info.
Visit www.joinred.com for more information on the (RED) campaign.
You can help be a part of the solution for a better world.
(RED) and Starbucks
So it looks like (RED) and Starbucks have come together after all... anyone remember those days of first attempting this?
Starbucks Joins (RED) to Help Save Lives in Africa
From (RED)
Today at 5:20pm
Starbucks and (RED) today announced a multi-year partnership that will give coffee lovers a chance to do good every day.
Some (RED) Stuff
SO, this week I received two e-mails from those individuals up at (RED).. Shoot I believe I e-mailed them quite a while ago, but at least the finally responded.
The first one is from the guy I actually spoke to on the phone and it sounds pretty good. I'm still partly convinced that one of the companies we were looking at is one of the two cool new partners they're talking about since every time I physically bring up a name of a company they shut up. lol.. but here's the response:
'
Hi Tricia:
Seeing (RED)
Okay - here's the gameplan.
We've made contact and they seem willing to at least listen to what we have to say. I've sent them an e-mail outlining everything we've been talking about, but haven't heard back from them yet. I'll give them a few more days before I e-mail them again.
But, if I do e-mail again, I want to approach it differently. I want them to know there is more support for this beyond me. I know you all can't physically/mentally be involved in exactly what's going on because there are so many other things going on now too, however, I think if they see that there is the support.. maybe it will make a bigger impact.
Even better (RED) news
So,
Yesterday I was kind of bummed since I hadn't heard back from (RED) at all after I sent off the e-mail. Then today, I get a call from an assitant to (RED) saying that they had received my message. He told me that he appreciates my (our) interest in (RED) and would love to hear our ideas. He also mentioned that even if (RED) wouldn't be able to use our ideas (companies) right away, that they would definitely like to keep in contact with us and use us to maintain campus contacts and such. So anyways, he asked me to send him an e-mail about what we were doing/trying to do and that he'd get back to us. He also gave me his direct phone number.
SO anyways, I'm feeling good now! :)
Houston, we have contact
I'm happy to report that I finally spoke to someone personally from (RED)! :o)
YAY.
So, she gave me two e-mails addresses to send an e-mail to.
So what I'd like to hear from you guys are ideas of what to include. I have the basics down regarding spreading to more accessible companies, helping out, etc..
but any ideas??
thanks a bunch! :o)
All things (RED)
So, since there are a lot of newcomers to the site, I wanted to repost some information about (RED) so that everyone can be filled in on what's going on, goals, etc.
The (RED) Campaign consists of a set of products (Gap clothing, converse, ipods, motorolla razrs, armani, american express) designed to help eliminated AIDS in Africa. (RED) doesn't touch any of the money, they simply act as a means to promote awareness by attaching (RED) to products. Companies then donate portions of their proceeds from their items (amount donated depends on the company... Gap sends the most) directly to the Global Fund.
You're not going to believe this
So basically I have a number that I can reach Bobby Shriver at (He's one of the big guys with RED like Bono is)...
I had e-mailed one of the guys who had written an article on (RED).
I think if you guys can help me get some ideas together I'd appreciate it. I'm glad we have a contact person but at the same time I dont know how to go about this!
Comments
Hi Everyone,
I just e-mailed anyone and everyone I could find that was somehow associated with (RED) asking for contacts directly at (RED). Hopefully we'll catch someone's eye. Other than that, not to much new news for (RED) but my friend Adam at CalPoly sent out a great e-mail to Jamba asking them to reconsider and I think it sounded pretty good so we'll see.
I'm loving the Anti-War Concert Idea and look forward to seeing something come of that.
I'll try to keep you guys updated with everything and stay on top of whats going on here but if I do drop of the face of the internet its becuase I have finals and then my wisdom teeth are coming out. I promise that I'll be back.
Thanks and have a great night!
(RED) Contact
The PR group that Grant found wrote back and forwarded my e-mail to their contact at (RED). Hopefully something will happen from this!
Have a great day!
Starbucks Response
Here's my response from Starbucks!
Hello Tricia,
Thanks so much for contacting us regarding your suggestion for Starbucks to create a Red product beverage.
Your feedback is very important to us, so we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I want to assure you that I've passed on your comments to the appropriate people in our company for their attention.
Thoughts on things and updates with (RED)
Hey everyone,
First off, I have a few updates with (RED). I contacted (RED) through a different e-mail instead of the one I first tried - I have yet to hear back from them so at least it's not automated. I also contacted the blogger from (BLOG)red asking for any contacts and haven't heard from them. I just sent an e-mail out to the PR Group that Grant provided info for. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely give them a call.
As far as the website goes, we're up to 300 members now. I have 4 additional people helping me with that group now as well as looking for ways to contact (RED) and to find other companies that may be interested. I'll keep you updated.
A thought on branding
Greetings.
Yesterday, after we hit a collective roadblock in trying to add products to the (RED) campaign, I did some poking around and found this:
http://www.wolff-olins.com/contactus.htm
The Wolff Olins Agency is the company responsible for the branding of the (RED) concept; that is, the overall advertising, design, logo, presentation, and product presentation. They're also the only entity associated with (RED) that has their telephone number on their website.
I heard back from Honest Tea
Hi LTL-- last night I wrote to a company called Honest Tea. They sell great teas and I like the company because they promote fair trade and all that stuff. Anyways, I heard back from them already and this is what they said:
Hi Tricia,
Thanks for your note. You are certainly on the same wavelength as us. We had reached out to the Red folks several times before we introduced our own Red tea -- which is actually sourced from South Africa, so it would be a perfect fit with the campaign. We never heard back from anyone there, but if you can help connect us to the right people, we would certainly welcome the chance to partner. Someone from our company will follow up.
Naked Juice
So, the idea was thrown out there to get Naked Juice to join (RED)..(thanks!) Maybe the smaller companies will work out a bit better. BTW, I'll try Jamba again with a different letter and see if we can get some success that way... Anyways, I got an e-mail out to NJ with the request. Here's the e-mail and address:
Naked Juice Company
935 W. 8th Street
Azusa, CA 91702
customerservice@nakedjuice.com
and the letter:
(RED): Response from Jamba Juice
Exhibit A: Response email of dubious creativity.
Hello Grant,
Thank you for contacting Jamba Juice and thinking of us. As a company, we have made a commitment to direct our financial and product donations to support physical activity for local youth. Regretfully, we are unable to accommodate your sponsorship/donation request at this time because your request falls outside our donation guidelines. However, we hope you will please keep us in mind for future events.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Rep (to remain unnamed)
(RED) Hits 100
Just thought I would let everyone know that the Facebook (RED) Group hit 100 members this morning!
(RED) Jamba Juice
As promised, here's the letter. It's also crossposted on the Facebook group at this link.
(RED) update
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to update you with whats going on with the (RED) stuff. I created a facebook group, "Students for the Power of (RED)" -- join the group and invite everyone! Here is the link to that site:
http://ucdavis.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2250815086
A sample starbucks letter has been posted for everyone to change to their info and send out to starbucks. According to Starbucks.com, a consent to use your information has to be sent in with the letter. Here is the link to that disclosure form:
http://www.starbucks.com/customer/disclosure_form.pdf
Your letter and consent form can be mailed to:
(RED) Campaign - Get Starbucks Invoved
Hi everyone,
I am a supporter of the (RED) Campaign and feel that other companies should get involved with this worthy cause. I feel that Starbucks would be a great addition to the list of current companies (Gap, Converse, American Express, Motorolla, etc) since the company is both US and worldwide. With their help, they can become part of the solution while involving thousands of individuals too. Either by creating a new drink especially for the cause, or agreeing to donate for the purhase of a current drink, we can help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
Any ideas as to how to get Starbucks (or other companies ) involved?