Some NOPD officers took a few minutes out of their shift today (May 18) to get a little silly.
Officers from the Sixth District and NOPD’s Child Abuse division spent some time with the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana’s NFL-YET club. In addition to bringing some toys and coloring books to donate to the club, NOPD’s men and women in blue donned red noses in honor of National Red Nose Day on May 25, 2017.
“Informal visits like this are an excellent way for our officers to interact with children and teenagers in a relaxed and positive environment,” said NOPD Superintendent Michael S. Harrison. “Early interaction with law enforcement personnel helps set the tone for better relationships with officers in the future.”
The Boys & Girls Club is one of many children’s charities that benefit from Red Nose Day, a national fundraising event that raises money and awareness to help end child poverty. It is powered by Walgreens stores and the U.S. non-profit Comic Relief, which drives positive change through the power of entertainment.
NOPD partners with local Walgreens stores for other community outreach activities including the annual distribution of Halloween candy to children in each of the city’s eight police districts.
Non-profit organizations supported by the Red Nose Day Fund include Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Children’s Health Fund; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; National Council of La Raza; Save the Children; and The Global Fund. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match every Red Nose dollar raised via Facebook until June 15, 2017.
On May 25th – the official Red Nose Day – NBC’s three-hour program block to celebrate Red Nose Day will both entertain viewers and give them an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of kids in need. “Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day” will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT followed by a very special episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls for Red Nose Day” featuring Academy-Award winner Julia Roberts venturing to Kenya at 9 p.m. ET/PT, leading up to NBC’s third annual “The Red Nose Day Special” hosted by Chris Hardwick at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
The inaugural Red Nose Day event in the U.S. took place in May 2015. In its first two years in the U.S., Red Nose Day has raised more than $60 million to benefit children and young people living in poverty in America and abroad.
Official Red Nose Day noses are available for purchase at area Walgreens stores.