About the Show
Red Nose Day, the U.K.'s #1 television fundraising event, is coming to America in a spectacular live star-studded special Thursday, May 21 (8-11 p.m. ET) on NBC.
Seth Meyers, David Duchovny and Jane Krakowski will host "Red Nose Day," NBC's star-studded charity event, while Ed Sheeran, Josh Groban, Christian Slater, Al Roker, Andy Cohen, Kellan Lutz and Kermit the Frog are joining the "fun-raising" special. Featuring great comedy, videos produced by Funny or Die, incredible music performances and almost 100 of Hollywood's favorite stars, the benefit event will help 12 charity organizations lift children and young people out of poverty in the U.S. and in some of the poorest communities in the world. Meyers, Duchovny and Krakowski will each host one hour of the three-hour live event happening at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom.
The money raised during Red Nose Day will be used to fund programs that address the immediate needs of children and young people living in poverty in the U.S. and internationally in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The money will be split between domestic and international poverty issues. The pre-selected charity partners are Boys & Girls Clubs of America; charity: water; Children's Health Fund; Feeding America; Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance; the Global Fund; LIFT; National Council of La Raza; National Urban League; Oxfam America; Save the Children and United Way.
At only 14 years of age, James is one of the youngest students in our Urban Youth Empowerment Program (UYEP), receiving education, mentorship and on-the-job training. Like so many youth living in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods, James was sentenced to the juvenile justice system, and not given the tools to overcome the tragic cycle of recidivism.
His story is increasingly common in the communities we serve. James is one of 700 juvenile offenders learning the skills necessary to find jobs, and receiving case management, mentoring, education, and career development through Urban League's UYEP. The Urban League of Rochester program staff work with James to help him better understand his learning disability, and connect him to various restorative justice and community service activities—the core mission of the National Urban League.
We, however, cannot sustain the work of our affiliates and this level of impact and change nationally without the support of our partners, funders and donors.
This is why we are thrilled to announce that the National Urban League has been selected among 12 poverty-fighting charities to benefit from NBC’s inaugural Red Nose Day fundraiser on May 21. Joining the Red Nose campaign to help end poverty are stars like Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Sam Smith and Pharrell.
Red Nose Day USA was adopted from the U.K.’s Red Nose Day, which in its last 30 years of existence has raised more than $1 billion in donations for organizations addressing poverty. Funds raised on Red Nose Day will help the Urban League Movement change lives and give children hope for the future, specifically funding our two signature programs, Urban Youth Empowerment Program (UYEP) and Project Ready—both designed to prepare African American and other minority youth for college, work, and life.
Get your red nose at Walgreens and Duane Reade, and tune into NBC on May 21 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time for a night of comedy, music and celebrities to benefit children like Justin who we provide direct services to each year.
