This Empowering Nose – Combat Childhood Poverty on Red Nose Day

One in five children in the United States lives in poverty. That’s 15.5 million children that have been dealt a losing hand! Kind of blows your mind, doesn’t it? The U.S, richest nation in the world, ranks fifth of all the developed nations, in childhood poverty. Greece, Mexico, Israel and Turkey are at the top of the list.

That’s a list that shouldn’t exist. So, in 1988 Comic Relief, Inc., a non-profit organization, launched Red Nose Day in the UK to help combat childhood poverty through comedy, donations and fundraisers. It wasn’t until 2015 that the United States decided to step up and join the fight.

Red Nose Day, this year held on May 24^th, is the day to set your inhibitions aside, act silly, raise awareness, and funds to empower those who have fallen into, or have been born into poverty. Walgreens is the exclusive retailer of the famed red nose in the United States. For just one dollar, you too can help fight childhood poverty by purchasing a red nose and wearing it proudly. Half the purchase price goes to organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of America, Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Save the Children, and more.

Since its inception in 1988, Comic Relief, Inc. has raised over $1,000,000,000 globally. Of that, America has raised over $100,000,000 and has positively impacted the lives of over eight million children in just three years!

There are several ways to do your share in contributing to this most worthy cause. You can do as I did and buy a red nose for all your co-workers. We wore ours during one of our Monday morning meetings. Sure, we looked silly, but that’s the point! Not only did it lift our spirits in knowing we were helping combat childhood poverty, but it helped bring awareness to a world outside our own.

You can also donate, organize a fundraiser, or mail your tax deductible contribution to Red Nose Day Fund, P.O. Box 419828 Boston, MA 02241-9828.

Below is a poem that popped into my head while I was sleeping. My muse had definitely re-awakened! She pushed me out of bed, led me to my home office, spewed out these words and told me I had to do something about the state of our children. I hope you enjoy.

Too many children

Fall under the mark

Because hunger, not knowledge

Is their spark.

Turn the tables today

And give them a way

To move forward with promise and hope.

Wear it proudly for them,

This empowering nose

Help bring the world’s kids out of poverty and woes.

That we care is what we want them to know

And pray that the road to prosperity

Is never closed.

I hope you’ve found this post enlightening. We can’t turn a blind eye to the poverty that exists in this country and around the world. At the very least, all it takes is one measly dollar to sport a red nose, bring awareness and, hopefully, an end to childhood poverty. That’s not too much to ask. You can spare a dollar, can’t you?

Peace,

Bravewarrior