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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) says it exceeded its initial goal of raising $5 million in support of the Red Nose Day campaign to raise money for children and young people living in poverty.
As of Red Nose Day, WBA had raised $7 million, according to Linn Jordan, director of marketing, strategy and planning for Walgreens.
“Our incredible partnership with the Red Nose Day campaign is one more way that Walgreens can continue to fulfill its purpose — to champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy,” says Alex Gourlay, executive vice president of WBA and president of Walgreens. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have exceeded our fund-raising goal, but the real recognition is owed to our customers and team members who embraced the spirit of this cause and joined us for a good laugh along the way.”
Walgreens was the exclusive retailer for the campaign, which culminated with a three-hour benefit broadcast live on NBC on May 21. Coldplay, U2, Keith Urban and Kermit the Frog were among the scores of celebrities that performed during the telecast.
Walgreens stores sold red noses for $1 apiece. Fifty cents from the sale of each red nose sold between April 17 and May 30 was contributed to the Red Nose Fund. Gourlay, and countless others, including Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, have been seen and photographed donning the red nose.
Walgreens’ customers also contributed to the campaign’s antipoverty cause by purchasing selected products at Walgreens from vendor partners such as Coca-Cola Co., Kraft Foods Group Inc. and Mars Inc. Richard Curtis, cofounder of Red Nose Day, came up with the idea of the Rudolph-like noses because he believed they induced laughter and made people happy.
