Noses On! Walgreens Welcomes Red Nose Day Back to America as the Exclusive Retailer of the New Sparkle Red Nose

(PHOENIX – April 10, 2018) – With 241 locations across Arizona, Walgreens proudly returns as the exclusive retailer of the Red Noses for the fourth annual Red Nose Day, helping raise funds to end child poverty, one nose at a time. This year’s iconic Red Nose will have an extra twinkle, as Walgreens introduces its first ever “Sparkle Red Nose.” The new edition – which people wear in support of the official Red Nose Day on Thursday, May 24 – hit store shelves at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide this morning, officially kickstarting the eight-week charitable campaign.

From now until June 2, customers can participate and show their support by purchasing a Red Nose for $1, with all profits from all sales benefitting Red Nose Day. Following the success of past campaigns, Walgreens is committed to continuing to raise funds through the sale of Red Noses and Red Nose Day merchandise by reminding Americans that “Every One Counts” – a simple idea that helping end child poverty can start with buying one Red Nose at Walgreens.

“At Walgreens, we believe our business should be a catalyst for change to help improve the lives of people in the U.S. and globally,” said Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Walgreens. “By focusing our efforts on initiatives like Red Nose Day, we create a unique and powerful opportunity for our customers and the communities we serve to come together to help make an impact on a worthwhile cause like child poverty. Every One Counts means that a $1 donation can help provide nutritious food for a child or school supplies for a student. By choosing Walgreens, our customers choose to make a difference in the life of a child in need.”

Every One Counts

Walgreens cause platform, “Every One Counts,” provides an opportunity for customers to help children by supporting the health and well-being of communities both in the U.S. and around the world. Through efforts such as Red Nose Day and Walgreens Get A Shot. Give A Shot. campaign, and partnerships with ME to WE and Vitamin Angels, customers can choose to make a difference by simply shopping at Walgreens.

“Our mission to improve health and wellness extends beyond the four walls of our stores,” said Adam Holyk, chief marketing officer and CSR leader for Walgreens. “Walgreens aims to remove the external barriers that prevent people from having access to critical health care supplies and services. We accomplish this through our commitment to impactful, long-term initiatives focused on health and wellbeing, supporting young people, cancer programs and our communities. Whether it’s buying a red nose, getting a flu shot or purchasing vitamins – even the smallest transactions can help provide much-needed support to populations in need.”

Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day has raised more than $100 million in the U.S. in three years to help end child poverty. Walgreens customers have helped to support the program through purchases of Red Noses, other Red Nose Day merchandise and cash donations, which provide funds for nutritious meals, essential medicine, clean water and other vital aid and education-based services to children in America and around the world.

Beneficiaries of the Red Nose Day Fund include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provides safe places for children to learn and play after school; Children’s Health Fund, which brings essential medical services to underserved children; hunger relief organization Feeding America; Save the Children, which provides critical early childhood programs, as well as charity: water; City Year; Covenant House; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; International Rescue Committee; Laureus Sport for Good; Oxfam America; Rotary/End Polio Now; UnidosUS; and The Global Fund.

This year, the Red Nose Day campaign will culminate in a night of special television programming celebrating Red Nose Day on May 24, starting at 7 p.m. Central time/ 8 p.m. Eastern time on NBC.

For more information on Red Nose Day and how to get involved, visit walgreens.com/RedNoseDay.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (walgreens.com), a provider of trusted care in communities since 1901, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,100 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. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

About Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day USA is a fundraising campaign run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief USA, also known as Comic Relief Inc., a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity. Red Nose Day started in the U.K., built on the foundation that the power of entertainment can drive positive change, and has raised over $1 billion since the campaign’s founding in 1988. Since launching in the U.S. in 2015, Red Nose Day has raised over $100 million, which has positively impacted more than 8.3 million children, both in America and abroad. Money raised by Red Nose Day USA supports programs that keep children in need safe, healthy and educated. Red Nose Day USA has received generous support from millions of Americans, hundreds of celebrities and many outstanding partners, including Walgreens, NBC, Mars, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about Red Nose Day and its impact, visit rednoseday.org. Follow @RedNoseDayUSA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This year, Red Nose Day is inviting everyone to go Nose to Nose. It is the simple act of two people touching Red Noses in a fun, light way, to create shareable social content while encouraging donations for the cause. Buy two noses at Walgreens, go Nose to Nose, and snap a selfie or video. Share it with the hashtag #GONOSETONOSE then make a donation at rednoseday.org. Challenge your friends to do the same. It’s a fun and easy way to participate.