NEW YORK – March 28, 2016 – NBCUniversal and Red Nose Day today announced they will team up once again with Walgreens and M&M’S Brand for a second annual live broadcast. Walgreens and M&M’S will be two of the presenting media sponsors of the two-hour Red Nose Day special, airing May 26, which brings together celebrities, musicians, corporate partners and the public to lift kids out of poverty. The live broadcast special will feature stand-up performances, sketch comedy and music performances from popular artists.
In the UK, Red Nose Day is an inspiring cultural phenomenon that has raised more than $1 billion globally. The inaugural Red Nose Day in the U.S. was held in May 2015. Spearheaded by the star-studded NBC special, the event raised more than $23 million with the help of stars like Julia Roberts, Will Ferrell, Blake Shelton, Pharrell, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Black, One Direction and Michelle Rodriguez.
Money raised in 2015 benefitted children in all 50 states and 15 countries internationally, including helping to serve nearly 8 million meals to children at food banks across the U.S., providing more than 50,000 American children access to essential medical services and supplying more than 170,000 life-saving vaccinations for children internationally.
In the weeks leading up to Red Nose Day on NBC, red noses and flair merchandise will be sold at Walgreens in a dedicated Red Nose Day Shoppe within its more than 8,100 stores. Walgreens is the exclusive retailer of the signature noses in the U.S., for $1 each with 50 cents contributed to the Red Nose Day Fund. No portion of purchase is tax deductible. This year, Walgreens also will be selling additional Red Nose Day “flair” merchandise, including mugs, necklaces, hats, deely boppers and red noses for cars to encourage people to “get seriously silly” for #RedNose Day. Proceeds from Red Nose and Red Flair purchases benefit the Red Nose Day Fund*
Additionally, M&M’S will give consumers “30 Days of Laughs” through its #MakeMLaugh campaign, where the brand will donate $1 for every social engagement with the hashtag through the day of the Red Nose Day broadcast.
“’Red Nose Day’ 2015 showcased the power of bringing people and brands together to raise a huge amount of money for a great cause,” said Dan Lovinger, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Advertising Sales Group, NBCUniversal. “NBC is excited to have strong support from Walgreens and M&M’S for another year of this incredible live event.”
Walgreens and M&M’S will have an on-air and online presence across NBCUniversal’s platforms, including the dedicated site for the NBC telecast at www.rednosedayusa.com.
“At Walgreens, we champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy and supporting Red Nose Day is part of that purpose,” said Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens. “We have more red noses, flair and other fun ways this year for everyone to get involved and support the cause.”
“The M&M’S brand is proud to once again leverage our beloved brand and colorful characters to support Red Nose Day during its second year in the U.S.,” said Lee Andrews, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Mars Chocolate North America. “We know how passionate our fan base is, and our goal is to engage them to raise even more awareness and donations for the Red Nose Day Fund while also having a lot of fun.”
“On behalf of the Red Nose Day organization, I’m thrilled that both Walgreens and M&M’S are returning as partners of Red Nose Day,” said Richard Curtis, feature film writer and director, and co-founder of Red Nose Day and Comic Relief. “It’s fantastic to have their incredible support again – alongside that of our amazing broadcast partner in NBC. Working together with them, and tapping into the extraordinary generosity of the American public, we’re going to be able to raise enough money to help change and even save the lives of a huge number of kids here in the United States and around the world.”
Richard Curtis is an executive producer for the NBC telecast (a Universal Television production), along with John Irwin of Irwin Entertainment, and Lily Sobhani.
As a company uniquely positioned to inform, engage, and inspire, NBCUniversal embraces the opportunity to create conversation, mobilize action and catalyze collaborations with our audience to address some of the nation’s most critical issues.
Red Nose Day Fund’s objective is to lift children out of poverty in the US and internationally. For more information about Red Nose Day Fund, visit www.rednosedayusa.com.
* Until June 4, 2016, for each Red Nose purchased Walgreens will donate $0.50; and for each Red Nose Flair item purchased (Beads, Bow Ties, Headbands, Sunglasses, Pens, Mugs, Cups and Hats) Walgreens will donate 10 percent of the purchase price to Comic Relief Inc.’s Red Nose Day Fund, which helps lift children out of poverty in the U.S. and overseas. For more information about the Red Nose Day Fund, visit rednoseday.org. No portion of purchase is tax deductible.
About NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. To learn more visit: www.nbcuniversal.com
About Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief Inc, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Money raised goes to the Red Nose Day Fund, which distributes money to organizations whose work helps to achieve Comic Relief Inc.’s vision of a just world free from poverty. The inaugural Red Nose Day in the U.S. was held on May 21, 2015 and raised more than $23 million. Funds raised benefited children in all 50 states and 15 countries internationally through programs addressing literacy, education, healthcare, and nutrition. The second annual Red Nose Day will take place on Thursday May 26, 2016. The day’s events will culminate in a two-hour entertainment TV special on NBC, featuring the country’s favorite comedians, musicians and Hollywood stars.
Comic Relief Inc. and Comic Relief UK are independent organizations related through their shared vision of a just world, free from poverty; and with the same mission to effect positive change through the power of entertainment. In the UK, Red Nose Day has been going for 30 years and is an inspiring cultural phenomenon that unites people from all walks of life in the interest of saving and changing lives across the globe.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.
About Mars, Incorporated
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.
