First charity to harness the power of pop culture to tackle AIDS
Red Hot Org
Leigh Blake and co-founder John Carlin were galvanized to address the horror of the AIDS epidemic in its early days and created The Red Hot Organization – dedicated to using music and Artists to make an impact on stigma and discrimination while fundraising for care and relief. Leigh produced Red Hot + Blue and Red Hot + Dance.
First HIV / AIDS pediatric clinic in Africa
The Family Care clinic, Mombasa Kenya
With Dr Shaffiq Essajee and NYU Medical Center, Red Hot was able to fund the first pediatric HIV/AIDS clinic in Kenya which became the first Keep A Child Alive treatment site.
First impact music project for AIDS in Africa
What’s Going On
Leigh and Bono were horrified at the scale of the AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa and invited pop stars to help fundraise and advocate for the U.S. Government to provide funds to save lives. Their work had a huge effect on the US Government and Pres Bush who launched the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief soon after.
FIrst NGO to ask the public to pay for AIDS drugs for children and families in Africa
Keep A Child Alive
Co-Founded by Leigh and Alicia Keys, Keep A Child Alive crested campaigns to advocate for access to life-saving AIDS drugs in Africa. Alicia and Leigh funded the work themselves and then asked the public to do the same. It was a huge success and has saved millions of lives through treatment access and advocacy.
First charitable text message campaign
Keep A Child Alive on American Idol
Using Alicia’s celebrity power, we were invited by American Idol to bring a young musical talent from our Rwandan program to perform on American Idol and for the first time, invite the public to donate by text.
First multi celebrity PSA made with iPhones
23 Ways You Could Be Killed While Black in America
After the spate of deaths by police culminating in Philando Castile’s death, Alicia and Leigh galvanized Artists to film themselves on their cell phones and send the clips in. Each Artist named a way to be killed while naming the victim. Hugely successful, created widespread awareness and variously copied.
First organization to engage the music industry around a U.S. Truth Commission
Breathe With Me Revolution
In 2016 Leigh and a group of esteemed religious leaders asked Barack Obama for a Truth Commission on Racial Justice. No dice. Again after the murder of George Floyd, Leigh and Ann formed #breathewithme Revolution to try once more. We galvanized over 30 celebrities including Billie Eillish, Alicia Keys, Mary J Blige and many more to call for a US Truth Commission to finally unlock the truth about systemic racism.
First basic income project created in the slums of India for single Mothers
Fund A Mom
In 2018 Leigh and Ann created a basic income project benefitting single mothers in the slums of Jaipur. It is an ongoing smashing success and proves that basic income is the most efficient way out of poverty.
Red Hot + Blue is the first compilation album from the Red Hot Organization in the Red Hot Benefit Series – with collaboration from top music artists and proceeds benefiting AIDS causes. The album and TV special feature Artists such as Neneh Cherry, The Neville Brothers, Neneh Cherry, Sinead O’Connor, Iggy Pop, Debra Harry, David Byrne, Tom Waits, Annie Lennox and U2, reinterpreting several songs of Cole Porter.
Red Hot + Dance
Red Hot + Dance
From Producer, Leigh Blake
A collaboration between George Michael and Red Hot which raised money for AIDS care and relief. Michael donated all proceeds from the song to support the cause. For Too Funky, Thierry Mugler designed and created the costumes for the models in the song’s music video, which shows Michael in two-to three-second appearances as a director filming a number of supermodels on the catwalk at a fictitious runway show.
Kids
Kids
From Producer, Leigh Blake
“Kids” has become an art house classic and a cultural touchstone – the film centers on a cabal of broken New York teenagers who spend 24 hours boozing, rolling blunts, fighting and indulging in unsafe, emotionally vacant sex. It is “Lord of the Flies” with skateboards, nitrous oxide and hip-hop.
Ain’t Nuthin’ But A She Thing
Ain’t Nuthin’ But A She Thing
From Producer Leigh Blake
Inner City Blues - The music of Marvin Gaye
Inner City Blues - The music of Marvin Gaye
The official music video for “I Want You” feat. Massive Attack directed by Earle Sebastian from the ‘Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye’ album. The song is also featured on Madonna’s compilation album ‘Something to Remember’ released on Warner Bros. in 1995.
Alicia in Africa
Alicia in Africa
From Producers Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys
In 2002, Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys travelled to South Africa and ignited the singer-songwriter’s passion for helping people in need. Leigh and Alicia toured the country meeting survivors of the AIDS epidemic.
We Are Together
We Are Together
From Producers Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys
Keep A Child Alive with Alicia Keys
Keep A Child Alive with Alicia Keys
From Producers Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys
In 2010, through their organization Keep a Child Alive, Alicia Keys and Leigh Blake hosted a contest and 5 winners from the U.S. got to them as they travelled to the African continent to connect with the people there struggling to survive the HIV / AID epidemic.
We Are Here: a rally for freedom, equality, and justice
We Are Here: a rally for freedom, equality, and justice
Let Me In with Alicia Keys
Let Me In with Alicia Keys
From Producers Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys
A film and accompanying campaign to stand as one with people forced to flee conflict and disaster as Refugees. Directed by Jonathan Olinger.
Blood Brother
Blood Brother
From Executive Producer Leigh Blake
Rocky Braat, a young man from a fractured family and a troubled past, went traveling through India without a plan. Then he met a group of HIV positive children living in an orphanage — a meeting that changed everything for him. Rocky left his life, friends, and career in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to live with the kids. We witness Rocky and the kids endure disease, abject poverty, and death. But, strangest of all, in the midst of these troubles, we see their deep joy. We come to understand why Rocky had given up everything he had to experience it. Blood Brother is a story of friendship. It’s a story of a life, stripped down to its essence. Most of all, it is a story about love, enduring in the face of death.
We like creating campaigns
We Are Here Movement - one stop shopping to change the world
We Are Here Movement - one stop shopping to change the world
From Producers Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys
We Are Here, from the movement created by Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys to manifest a world community built on true equality and to put an end to the injustice of poverty, oppression and hopelessness.
The Black America Refund
The Black America Refund
From Producers Leigh Blake and Ann Haggart
The Resolution - NowThis
The Resolution - NowThis
From Producers Leigh Blake and Ann Haggart
23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America
23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America
From Producers Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys
17 More Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America - Now This
17 More Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America - Now This
From Producers Leigh Blake and Ann Haggart
Fund a Mom
In 2018 Leigh and Ann created a basic income project benefitting single mothers in the slums of Jaipur. It is an ongoing smashing success and proves that basic income is the most efficient way out of poverty.
Fund A Mom
Fund A Mom
In 2018 Leigh and Ann created a basic income project benefitting single mothers in the slums of Jaipur. It is an ongoing smashing success and proves that basic income is the most efficient way out of poverty.
The Word is Calling Us - Faith Leaders call for Truth
The Word is Calling Us - Faith Leaders call for Truth
From Producers Leigh Blake and Ann Haggart
Criminal Justice Reform Campaign directed to the Speaker of the House
Criminal Justice Reform Campaign directed to the Speaker of the House
Digital Death
Digital Death
Wondering why we care more about celebs than millions dying – campaigns that kept celebrities off social for a week to illustrate the fact, campaign created by TBWA.
NowThis: How Activist Leigh Blake Sparked Global Change in HIV/AIDS Treatment
NowThis: How Activist Leigh Blake Sparked Global Change in HIV/AIDS Treatment
The Time Is Now: Support Criminal Justice Reform
The Time Is Now: Support Criminal Justice Reform
Alicia Keys at the Democratic National Convention Tribute to Mothers of the Movement
Alicia Keys at the Democratic National Convention Tribute to Mothers of the Movement
Alicia protest outside Nigerian Embassy to activate action for Kidnapped Chibok Girls
Alicia protest outside Nigerian Embassy to activate action for Kidnapped Chibok Girls
Alicia Red Dots Campaign
Alicia Red Dots Campaign
Made early in the work with Alicia Keys for Keep a Child Alive this video was shown on VHI and MTV networks.
Cher Campaign - Keep A Child Alive
Cher Campaign - Keep A Child Alive
The amazing Cher at the beginning of Keep a Child Alive helping spread awareness.
Keep A Child Alive
Keep A Child Alive
A trailer for Alicia In Africa – her journey to visit Keep a Child Alive’s work.
Multi-Celebrity Campaign - Keep A Child Alive
Multi-Celebrity Campaign - Keep A Child Alive
When AIDS in Africa was little known by the public, Keep a Child Alive asked its celebrity friends to spread the word.
Using Alicia’s celebrity power, we were invited by American Idol to bring a young musical talent from our Rwandan program to perform on American Idol and for the first time, invite the public to donate by text. 
