Walgreens takes its annual effort to end child poverty digital

Walgreens is observing Red Nose Day this year with a nod to social distancing.

For the sixth year, Walgreens is serving as the exclusive retailer of Red Nose Day, a fundraising campaign to end child poverty run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief U.S. Red Nose Day has raised $200 million since 2015.

Now through May 30, customers can donate online on the Walgreens e-commerce site to unlock a special Red Nose filter that can be shared on Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat. Donors can also share a selfie wearing their digital Red Nose, tagging @walgreens and #NosesOn, then challenging friends and family to do the same. 

This year, the digital Red Nose filter replaces the physical Red Nose traditionally sold in Walgreens stores, to help people adhere to health recommendations to stay home when possible and avoid face touching. In-store shoppers can still donate by telling their cashier.

One hundred percent of donations will go to Red Nose Day, benefiting partner organizations that help children in need stay safe, healthy and educated through nutritious meals, educational support, safe shelter and more. Grantee partner recipients of this year’s Red Nose Day Fund include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Children's Health Fund; Feeding America; Save the Children; City Year; Covenant House; International Rescue Committee; Laureus Sport for Good; UnidosUS; The Global Fund, and others.

"Red Nose Day has always been about celebrating kindness and caring, and our commitment to support children in need is more urgent than ever before," said Richard Ashworth, president of Walgreens. "The digital Red Nose is a simple and safe way for people to provide immediate support to the children and communities that are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 health pandemic, especially at a time when physical distance makes traditional ways of helping difficult."

As of Aug. 31, 2019, Walgreens operates 9,277 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Walgreens also provides specialty pharmacy and mail services and offers in-store clinics and other health care services throughout the U.S., most of which are operated by its healthcare strategic partners.