OREANDA-NEWS. Bank of America, (RED)® and world-renowned chef Mario Batali are teaming up in the third annual EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES campaign, rallying families, friends and food enthusiasts across the country to help raise awareness and money for the fight against AIDS. From June 1 through 10, Bank of America will donate 30 cents to the U.S. Fund for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for each customer who uses their Keep the Change-enrolled debit card at restaurants – up to $600,000 total. One 30-cent donation provides a day’s worth of life-saving medicine to people with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. This simple action allows customers to have a donation made on their behalf, and continue building their savings by receiving the round-up difference to the nearest dollar of the meal they purchase.

“By combining our reach with (RED) and Mario Batali, we’re creating the kind of awareness needed to make a meaningful difference,” said Anne Finucane, vice chairman at Bank of America. “Our work with (RED) is rooted in the belief that – together – we can provide women living with HIV the medicine needed to lead healthy lives so they can continue to work and take care of their families, contributing to stronger economies.”

(RED), founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage businesses and people in the fight against AIDS, is bringing together the biggest names in the culinary community through EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES. Spearheaded by Mario Batali, the annual campaign offers food fans the opportunity to support the fight against the disease by taking part in a series of unique (RED)-inspired food and drink events, ranging from dinners hosted by some of the world’s most celebrated chefs to food truck rallies and bespoke menus. In addition, to enhance awareness and encourage others to participate, diners can to take a photo of their meal and share it through social media channels using #onestep4RED and #86AIDS throughout the month of June.

“Food has the powerful ability to bring people together, which is exactly what is needed to win this critical fight,” said Batali. “EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES not only raises money, but, almost equally as important, drives conversation and inspires action.”

Today, 30 cents can provide medication called antiretrovirals (ARVS) which, when taken daily, can prevent a pregnant woman living with HIV from passing the virus to her unborn baby. Still, 600 babies are needlessly born with HIV every day. EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES enables people everywhere to join the fight and get that number closer to zero.

The EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES campaign marks the latest activity in the Bank of America and (RED) partnership. Earlier this year, following completion of its initial $10 million commitment, Bank of America announced a partnership expansion with (RED) to include an additional $10 million over five years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This investment will continue efforts to raise awareness and provide support to help end mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa, and achieve an AIDS-free generation.

The money raised by (RED) is used to finance Global Fund grants that fight AIDS in eight African countries – Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. Those grants fund programs which provide AIDS treatment, testing, and prevention and care services. Of the more than $350 million generated by (RED), 100 percent has gone directly to the Global Fund.