Travel The World & Help People w/AIDS, Malaria, & TB | MASSIVEGOOD

By | March 4 2010 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Tapping into the power of social networks and social media to reach millions online worldwide, MASSIVEGOOD launched today with the goal to raise awareness and funds to support UNITAID’s life-saving efforts to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.

Created via a private-public partnership between leaders in the travel and tourism industry and the Millennium Foundation, MASSIVEGOOD is a global platform that gives travelers in the United States an opportunity to donate $US 2 dollars when purchasing a travel product such as a flight, car rental, or hotel booking. Following the launch in the United States, the Millennium Foundation reports it will also be launching MASSIVEGOOD later this year in UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain. With over 700 million flights purchased each year by travelers worldwide, the potential to raise awareness and funds for global health is significant.

UNITAID, an organization created in 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide additional funding to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, is the beneficiary of funds raised through MASSIVEGOOD. Currently supporting 3 out of 4 children on AIDS treatments globally, UNITAID has committed over $US 200 million dollars to treating people with tuberculosis as well. When every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria, every 15 seconds a person dies from tuberculosis, and every 13 seconds a person dies from HIV/AIDS, the need is urgent for funds to address these global diseases.

MASSIVEGOOD makes it easy for millions of travelers around the globe to make a micro-donation of $US 2 to help treat people who suffer from malaria, tb, and HIV/AIDS.

It will be interesting to see going forward how other professional sectors and public organizations find creative ways to form partnerships and leverage the power of social media and social networks to address pressing global issues of our day. Do you know of other examples of public-private partnerships that aim to solve global issues? Please let us know by leaving a comment below, thanks.