Square and (RED) debut SQUA(RED) Reader

NEW YORK – In partnership with AIDS organization (RED), Square debuted a Special Edition SQUA(RED) Reader, bringing the color red to the company’s hardware products and enabling local sellers and their customers to play a role in one of the greatest challenges of our time — the fight to end AIDS. Sellers in the United States can get a Special Edition SQUA(RED) Reader online at mkt.com/red.

For every SQUA(RED) Reader ordered, 97.25% of the $10 donation amount will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS. The donation amounts to more than 24 days of life-saving medication for someone living with HIV in Africa. The SQUA(RED) Reader also raises awareness of the epidemic with every credit card swipe: when sellers swipe with a SQUA(RED) Reader, their customers can learn more and donate directly to the Global Fund from their digital receipts.

“Square already helps millions of local sellers run and grow their business, and now with SQUA(RED) Reader, we’re empowering them to raise awareness for an important cause and help save lives in the process,” said Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square.

Adds Deborah Dugan, CEO of (RED), “Our partnership with Square is truly special in that it’s the ultimate marriage of two key (RED) pillars: consumer activism and digital innovation. With the new SQUA(RED) Reader, the pioneering team at Square has created a beautiful (RED) product that allows small businesses everywhere to turn their transactions into an AIDS fighting machine. This is an exciting first step towards revolutionizing the way charities fundraise and raise awareness among consumers!”

Starting today, local businesses across the U.S. are using SQUA(RED) Reader to engage their customers in the fight to end AIDS, including Valerie Confections in Los Angeles, King of Pops in Atlanta, and more than 30 sellers at Artists & Fleas in New York City, a market for independent designers and artists in the city’s Chelsea Market.

“Artists & Fleas is committed to both helping small businesses grow and doing the right thing for our community,” said Ronen Gilmer, the market’s founder. “As designers and artists in New York City, fighting AIDS is a cause that is close to our hearts. We’re proud to join forces with RED, Square, and our customers, and do our part to help make an AIDS-free generation a reality.”

To learn more about the SQUA(RED) partnership, please visit red.org.

Square is making commerce easy for everyone. Whether a business needs to accept credit cards, manage a full point-of-sale system, or sell online, Square offers simple and affordable tools so businesses of all sizes can start, run, and grow. The company began with a free credit card reader for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, allowing businesses to accept credit cards anywhere, anytime, for one low, transparent rate. Square now offers a full suite of hardware and software tools including Square Register, Square Stand, Square Market, Square Wallet, and Square Cash. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, Square is currently available in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

(RED) was founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage businesses and people in the fight to end AIDS. (RED) partners with the world’s most iconic brands who contribute up to 50% of profits from (RED) branded goods and services to the Global Fund. (RED) Proud Partners include: Apple, Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company, Beats by Dr. Dre, Belvedere, Claro, SAP, Telcel and Live Nation Entertainment. (RED) Special Edition partners include: Jonathan Adler, Theory, HEAD, Kidrobot, Mophie, FEED, Sir Richard’s Condom Company, Shazam, Square, Girl Skateboards, Nanda Home, Bottletop, Fatboy USA and Bed Bath & Beyond. To date, (RED) has generated more than $240 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to support HIV/AIDS grants in Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. 100 percent of that money goes to work on the ground — no overhead is taken. Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted more than 40 million people with prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services.