iPhone Sells for $100,000 at Auction for AIDS Benefit

iPhones have been flying off shelves around the globe, after being released recently by Apple and cellular provider AT&T, but one now has an added benefit not advertised in marketing literature: the ability to keep children alive.

Keep a Child Alive said Friday that an iPhone recently sold in a charity auction for $100,000 - a price far above the already heady $500-$600 charged consumers every day for this device. Keep a Child Alive is a charitable organization that facilitates delivery of antiviral medicine to children diagnosed with the AIDS virus in Africa. Africa has been the hardest-hit continent by the AIDS virus, and children die there of this disease by the rate of hundreds per day. Through constant fundraising campaigns, Keep a Child Alive strives to bring much-needed medicine to every child suffering with AIDS.

The iPhone auction received many bids, but the still-annoymous donor of $100,000 will be the recipient of the first iPhone every sold, 2 Jawbone bluetooth earpieces, two VIP tickets to the Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in October, and two round-trip plane tickets good for travel within the United States to attend the VIP event.

The first iPhone ever sold was purchased by actor Spike Lee, who then donated it to the charity to show his support of their efforts in the fight against AIDS. Lee purchased his iPhone at Apple's NYC Soho location on June 29th. Along with the actor, many volunteers representing Keep a Child Alive were on location showing their support of the charity.

Many of those volunteers stood in line at the Apple location for four days prior to June 29th, getting out the word on the charity's mission and creating a media buzz both in New York City and around the world. Lee finally made his purchase at 6 PM on the 29th, bringing a successfully end to Keep a Child Alive's grassroots iPhone campaign.

Another big name celebrity is also connected with Keep a Child Alive and will be honored at the organization's Black Ball. Bono, well-known for his philanthropic and volunteer efforts throughout the world, will be the Black Ball's special guest. At this event, singer Alicia Keys will officially present the $100,000 iPhone to its new owner. Prior to presentation, Keys will personalize the phone with a special voicemail recording.

Keep a Child Alive Vice President Elizabeth Santiso was quoted in the PRNewswire Press Release as saying, "We're thrilled, this iPhone is saving thousands of lives in Africa. We're so grateful to all of the people who contributed their time, money and energy on behalf of the cause."

Reference:

"Record-breaking $100,000 iPhone Bid for Keep a Child Alive Charity." PRNewswire. (http://prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-06-2007/0004620975&EDATE)