On May 24, Walgreens announced about new collaboration with Jordana Brewster to celebrate Red Nose Day, an effort to end child poverty.
“After the past year we’ve all had, I am proud to be working with Walgreens, a company that has been a constant community pillar during this pandemic, on such a great cause like Red Nose Day,” said Jordana Brewster. “I feel fortunate that I was able to be at home with my kids as they navigated virtual learning and what was happening in the world, but I realize that so many parents and children did not have that same experience. As a mom, it’s important for me to advocate for every child’s right to thrive and as a parent I want to teach my boys every day why we give back.”
Walgreens And Jordana Brewster Against Poverty Among Children
During COVID-19 pandemic, children were experiencing a higher poverty rate than any other age group.
“There are lower employment rates among parents with children, especially young children, in part because childcare is expensive and it’s not always easy to get back to work,” said Zachary Parolin, a researcher at the Center on Poverty & Social Policy and the lead author of the Columbia research, told FRONTLINE.
Before the crisis, the monthly child poverty rate was 18.7 percent, according to the researchers’ estimates. They found that the elevated trend of children living in poverty continued during the pandemic, with the child poverty rate reaching an estimated high of 21.4 percent in August. (In the same month, the poverty rate among adults aged 18 to 64 and 65-plus was 16.1 percent.) In October, the latest month for which figures are available, the child poverty rate was 19.9 percent.
Global Initiative, Local Impact
Red Nose Day began in the United States in 2015. Since then, millions of people have supported Red Nose Day’s fundraising efforts, with donations helping to support partner organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which supports children and youth with educational resources and a safe place to be after school;
Children’s Health Fund, which brings essential medical services to children in underserved and rural communities; Covenant House, which provides shelter and holistic support services to youth facing homelessness in the United States and Latin America; Start Early, which provides critical early childhood education programs for children ages 0-5, as well as City Year, Feeding America, International Rescue Committee, Brotherhood SisterSol, Amref, and others.
Walgreens encourage customers to donate to Red Nose Day until May 31 at Walgreens website. A donation will unlock a special Digital Red Nose filter that can be shared on Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat.
“There is no better time than now to shine a light on the issue of child poverty,” said Patrick McLean, chief marketing officer of Walgreens. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put many children and families in a tough spot. At Walgreens, we are committed to giving back to the communities we serve and doing what we can to be a helping hand to all impacted by this past year. This Red Nose Day, especially, every donation counts.”
