Comic Relief, Inc.

Comic Relief, Inc.

Comic Relief logo
Genre Telethon
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Camera setup Multiple
Running time Various
Release
Original network NBC
Original release May 21, 2015 –
present
Chronology
Related shows Red Nose Day 2015 (UK)
External links
Website www.rednoseday.org

Comic Relief, Inc., previously known as America Gives Back Inc., is an operating 501(c)(3) American charity. It is an independent sister organization to the UK charity Comic Relief and is not connected to the former American charity Comic Relief USA.[1] Comic Relief, Inc. is notable for the 2015 US launch of Red Nose Day, a telethon hosted by NBC based closely on the UK example of the same name, Red Nose Day.[2]

History of Comic Relief and Red Nose Day

In 1985, as a response to famine in Ethiopia and other poverty stricken areas of the world, British comedy scriptwriter, Richard Curtis and British comedian, Lenny Henry co-founded and co-created the British charity, Comic Relief.[3] On February 8, 1988, Lenny Henry went to Ethiopia and celebrated the very first Red Nose Day Telethon. Over 150 celebrities and comedians participated. The event raised £15 million and attracted 30 million viewers on BBC television. The highlight of Comic Relief is Red Nose Day which raises funds for children in need, poverty alleviation and worldwide charities.[3]

Red Nose Day USA

Red Nose Day is celebrated on May 25 in the U.S. Multi-year grants have been given to organizations such as Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Save the Children and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.[4] In its first two years, the U.S. Red Nose Day raised more than $60 million.[4]

Red Nose Day 2017

In 2017, Facebook used its new fundraising platform to help users raise money for Red Nose Day. Anyone who created a Red Nose Day event could add a donate button to any post. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matched up to $1 million of donations raised on Facebook.[5] The NBC Telethon for Red Nose Day[6] included special episodes for American Ninja Warrior, Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day;[7] Running Wild with Bear Grylls with Julia Roberts;[8] featuring celebrities and corporate sponsors for their activities, as well as standard telethon show hosted by Chris Hardwick.[9]

References

  1. ↑ RedNoseDay.org, About Red Nose Day. Retrieved 13 May 2015
  2. ↑ Roberts, Aniston (7 May 2015). "Roberts, Aniston, Mann added to ‘Red Nose Day’ special". The Detroit News. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Our History". Comic Relief. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Do You Know What Red Nose Day Is?". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  5. ↑ "Giving: Red Nose Day teams up with Facebook to boost donations". Biz Women. The Business Journals. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  6. ↑ "Red Nose Day". rednosedayusa.org. 25 May 2017. 1-800-500-4373.
  7. ↑ "Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day". American Ninja Warrior. 25 May 2017. NBC.
  8. ↑ "Red Nose Day with Julia Roberts". Running Wild with Bear Grylls. 25 May 2017. NBC.
  9. ↑ "2017". Red Nose Day. 25 May 2017. NBC.


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