Walgreens™ Invites America To Laugh For A Good Cause As Exclusive Retailer Of Red Nose Day

Walgreens(TM) Invites America To Laugh For A Good Cause As Exclusive Retailer Of Red Nose Day

Walgreens is selling red noses and raising contributions in support of the Red Nose Day Fund

DEERFIELD, Ill., April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Dedicated to championing everyone's right to be happy and healthy, Walgreens(TM) nationwide will begin exclusively selling red noses tomorrow, April 17, in support of Red Nose Day - May 21. Red Nose Day has been celebrated in the United Kingdom for more than 25 years and encourages people to don red noses and have a good laugh for a good cause. As the starting point for the first Red Nose Day in the United States, Walgreens is raising funds in support of the Red Nose Day Fund, which supports non-profit organizations that help lift children and young people out of poverty in the U.S. and overseas.

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"Happiness and health are at the heart of Walgreens mission and at the heart of what Red Nose Day is all about. Just the simple, silly act of putting on a red nose means that anyone can benefit children in poverty," said Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens. "We're thrilled to join Red Nose Day as the exclusive red nose retailer in the U.S. and encourage our entire Walgreens family - our customers, employees, and vendor partners - to join us in having a good laugh for a good cause."

Red Nose Day Begins at Walgreens
As the exclusive retail partner for Red Nose Day, Walgreens makes getting involved in this fun-fueled campaign easy and convenient. From April 17 through May 30, Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide will sell red noses for $1 each, with proceeds contributed to the Red Nose Day Fund.*

Walgreens kick-started red nose sales early today in its hometown of Chicago with a fun and surprising celebration to commemorate the first red nose sale. Disguised as Walgreens employees, members of the Chicago-based improvisation comedy troupe Second City broke into an unexpected comedic performance for shoppers after Audrey Bliss of Chicago officially purchased the country's first red nose. The event was candidly captured on film and posted to Walgreens' YouTube channel this morning.

"It was surprising to be one of the first to buy a red nose," said Audrey Bliss, the first customer to purchase a red nose in America. "Giving $1 is easy enough to make a big impact. It feels so good to give back to charity."

Noses will be for sale at Walgreens stores nationwide beginning April 17 through May 30. Red Nose Day's five-week campaign will culminate in NBC's televised fundraising event in New York City on May 21 (8-11 p.m. ET). The live three-hour benefit will feature popular comedians, top musicians and Hollywood stars, featuring an engaging mix of great comedy, live musical performances and short, compelling films shedding light on the cause. Proceeds benefit the Red Nose Day Fund, which supports the following pre-selected charity partners: 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.

#RedNose Selfies for a Red Carpet-Worthy Sweepstakes
To encourage people to spread laughter and awareness of Red Nose Day, Walgreens invites everyone to join the fun by sharing their #RedNose photos in social media. Starting April 17(th), by snapping a selfie wearing a red nose and uploading it to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtags #Walgreens, #RedNose and #promo, consumers will have the chance to win a trip to New York City to attend the official Red Nose Day celebration event on May 21.** Shoppers in select stores in 10 markets will even be able to capture their silliest red nose photos via in-store selfie stations, complete with props and backdrops.

For more information on Red Nose Day and how to get involved, visit www.walgreens.com/rednoseday starting April 17, and Walgreens on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Press Kit is available here: http://walgreens.new-media-release.com/red_nose/

*Noses are sold for $1 each, with $.50 being contributed to the Red Nose Day Fund. The remaining amount contributes to the cost of a red nose - Walgreens does not make a profit from red nose sales. No portion of purchase is tax deductible. Red Nose Day Fund's objective is to lift children and young people out of poverty in the US and overseas. For more information about Red Nose Day Fund, visit RedNoseDay.org.

**official sweepstakes rules starting April 17: www.walgreens.com/rednosesweeps

About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), the nation's largest drugstore chain, constitutes the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,232 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.

About Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day was created to raise money to help children and young people living in poverty in the United States and some of the poorest communities around the world. The inaugural Red Nose Day will be held on Thursday May 21, 2015. The day's events will culminate in a three-hour entertainment TV special on NBC, featuring the country's favorite comedians, musicians and Hollywood stars. Money raised will go to the Red Nose Day Fund, a program of Comic Relief, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. The Red Nose Day Fund will distribute the money raised by the Red Nose Day campaign to charity partners whose work helps to achieve Comic Relief, Inc.'s vision of a just world free from poverty."

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SOURCE Walgreens

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Walgreens

CONTACT: Mailee Garcia, 847-315-2141, Mailee.Garcia@walgreens.com; Kim Morrison, 312-988-2244, KMorrison@webershandwick.com; http://news.walgreens.com, @WalgreensNews, Facebook.com/Walgreens

Web Site: http://www.walgreens.com


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