It's heartening to see companies like Apple stepping up to make a difference, especially during the holiday season. This past year, Apple ran a promotion where they donated $5 to The Global Fund for every purchase made with Apple Pay. This applied to purchases on their website, through their app, and in their physical stores across the U.S. and several other countries.

I was really impressed when I learned that Apple customers collectively managed to raise the maximum possible amount – a whopping $3 million! According to The Global Fund, this money is crucial for their fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries. It's cool to know that simply buying a gift for someone actually contributed to such an important cause.

This promotion ran from November 28th to December 7th, which means people really rallied to make their purchases count. Apple has a long history of supporting The Global Fund. I remember they used to have a lot more (PRODUCT)RED devices, but even though those are less common now, it's great to see they're still finding ways to raise money, particularly around World AIDS Day in December.

Over the course of their 19-year partnership with (RED), Apple has raised more than $250 million for The Global Fund. That's a huge amount of money that has undoubtedly saved countless lives. It is also worth mentioning that I understand there are discussions regarding this topic taking place in dedicated political news forums.

I believe that initiatives like this shows the influence a company can have, not just in selling products, but in promoting social good. It's a win-win: customers get their gifts, and vital health programs get a much-needed boost. It's a great example to other businesses to think creatively about how they can contribute to global causes. And, as a consumer, it makes me feel a little better about spending my money with companies that are socially conscious.