Walgreens' Iconic Red Nose Goes All-Digital to Continue Fight Against Child Poverty During Critical Time
This time each year, residents across Chicagoland - and the nation - head to Walgreens to purchase their iconic Red Noses to help raise money to end child poverty. This year, however, the annual Red Nose Day fundraiser looks a little different than it has in the past.
With extended stay-at-home orders in many states, and social distancing and avoiding face-touching a top priority, Walgreens - the exclusive retailer for Red Noses - debuted its first-ever, all-digital Red Nose, allowing the spirit of Red Nose Day to bring people together even as we remain physically distant.
Through May 30, a minimum donation of $1 online at walgreens.com/rednoseday will unlock the new Red Nose filter that can be shared on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. One hundred percent of the donations associated with digital Red Noses will provide health, education, food and shelter resources to organizations caring for the most vulnerable among us - especially children living in poverty.
Since Red Nose Day launched in the United States in 2015, it has raised more than $200 million to support children across the world, including right here in Chicagoland. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, needs and economic hardship for children living in poverty have increased significantly. Red Nose Day has committed to direct funds to address the impact of COVID-19 on these children and the organizations that support them, with donations providing relief to Chicago-area organizations that face challenges threatening the health, safety and education of children.
Here we invite you to meet a few of the organizations that are counting on the sixth annual Red Nose Day to continue serving Chicagoland's young people and their families during this uncertain time.
Covenant House Illinois
Covenant House Illinois (CHIL) welcomes young people ages 18-24 facing or at risk of homelessness into its daytime Youth Development Center and on-site interim housing, providing a safe, caring environment and access to basic necessities for all youth, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. The number of youths served by Covenant House Illinois has grown roughly 50 percent since March as the organization works to help disconnected youth during this challenging time.
Girls, Inc. Chicago
A new Red Nose Day grant partner this year, Girls Inc. Chicago focuses on the development of young girls, helping them learn to value themselves, take risks, and discover and develop inherent strengths through long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment, and research-based programming. Girls Inc. helps girls navigate gender, economic, and social barriers, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent.
The Ounce/Educare Chicago
The Ounce's mission is to ensure all children living in America-particularly those born into poverty-have quality early childhood experiences in the crucial first five years of life. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, The Ounce is working to ensure that families across Chicagoland have the tools and resources necessary to thrive, including access to family support specialists, virtual mental health counseling and parental support groups.
The official Red Nose Day is Thursday, May 21 with a full night of fundraising and special performances on NBC, but Walgreens is accepting online donations (walgreens.com/rednoseday) to unlock a digital Red Nose now through May 30. Everyone who is able is encouraged to make their donation, unlock their Red Nose and share their support on social media, tagging @walgreens and #NosesOn.
While much of the world is on pause, kindness and giving are not. In fact, supporting our region's most vulnerable residents - our young people - is more important than ever before.
Kevin Hook is a store manager at Walgreens in the Chicagoland area.