(RED) Apple Products Earn $65M for AIDS Prevention

Apple's community service often comes in the form of globally launching beloved products, but the company also does its part for charity.

On Thursday, the Product (RED) charity announced that Cupertino has raised more than $65 million to benefit The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The Bono-backed organization tweeted the news yesterday, thanking longtime partner Apple for its efforts. An Apple spokeswoman also confirmed the numbers to PCMag.

Since the tech giant launched its first Product (RED) Special Edition iPod in 2006, it continues to offer a handful of (RED) products, including an iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch, iPhone 4S case, and various iPad covers.

A percentage of gross profits from the sale of Apple merchandise is funneled into the Global Fund, which aims to eradicate AIDS and HIV by 2015. To date, 14 million people in Africa have been aided by (RED)'s $200 million global fund, with the help of partners like Apple, Coca Cola, Beats, Starbucks, and Shazam.

"Apple is certainly leading the crew," U2 frontman Bono told audiences at the Clinton Global Initiative 2013 annual meeting this week.

Product (RED) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The charity told TechCrunch that "Apple is an enormously valued (RED) partner," adding that their contributions "help enable the Global Fund to finance the AIDS fight on the ground in Africa."

And while it is unclear how much Cupertino could potentially raise with the production of a (RED) iPhone, the new golden device has made quite a splash among consumers.

Bono's charity organization earlier this month announced another Apple-y venture, teaming up with designers Jony Ive and Marc Newson to build a collection of 40 items to be auctioned in late November. Proceeds will be benefit the Global Fund's overseas work.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 12:55 p.m. Eastern with confirmation from Apple.