Funny or Die has announced that it will work with Bono’s anti-poverty group ONE. The two will work with comedians and actors Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, Chloe Moretz, Marisa Tomei and Isaiah Mustafa to work towards starting to end AIDS by 2015.

The various stars appear in a video ask viewers to sign a petition on ONE to reverse proposed budget cuts to the life-saving AIDS program, PEPFAR. They also want to help push America to fulfill commitments to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“Of course, everyone knows there’s nothing funny about this disease,” said Michael Elliott, CEO of ONE. “But humor can be an extremely effective tool in raising awareness and inspiring action and we’re thrilled to be working with Zach and Funny or Die on this campaign.”

A large part of the campaign is to give treatment to the millions not receiving anything to fight off AIDS, and ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Funny Or Die will look to leverage its fanbase of more than 16 million unique users per month, over 60 million video views per month, some 4.2 million Twitter followers, and close to 1.8 million Facebook fans to promote their cause.

According to ONE, “We are at a critical point in the global fight against AIDS…more than 6.6 million people are now on life-saving treatment, up from just 100,000 in 2002…but there are still roughly 8 million people in need of treatment, and new HIV infections outpace those placed on treatment by nearly 2:1.” Ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV, providing treatment to 15 million people, and drastically reducing new HIV infections are ambitious but achievable goals.

“AIDS has killed 30 million people in 30 years,” noted Elliott. “We finally have the science and know-how to end the pandemic, but it won’t happen unless we make sure the politicians know it is a priority and that effective programs, such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund, must be protected. This video will let us get that word out to millions of people we might not otherwise reach.”

Source: BrandChannel.com