<P> Comic Relief USA, previously known as America Gives Back Inc., is an operating 501 (c) (3) American charity . It is an independent sister organization to the UK charity Comic Relief and is not connected to the former American charity Comic Relief USA . Comic Relief USA is notable for the 2015 US launch of Red Nose Day, a telethon hosted by NBC based closely on the UK example of the same name, Red Nose Day . </P> <P> In 1985, as a response to famine in Ethiopia and other poverty stricken areas of the world, British comedy scriptwriter, Richard Curtis and British comedian, Lenny Henry co-founded and co-created the British charity, Comic Relief . On February 8, 1988, Lenny Henry went to Ethiopia and celebrated the very first Red Nose Day Telethon . Over 150 celebrities and comedians participated . The event raised £ 15 million and attracted 30 million viewers on BBC television . The highlight of Comic Relief is Red Nose Day which raises funds for children in need, poverty alleviation and worldwide charities . </P> <P> Starting in 2015, Red Nose Day is celebrated on the last Thursday of every May in the U.S. Multi-year funding grants have been given to organizations that help end child poverty such as Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Save the Children and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance . In its first four years, the U.S. Red Nose Day raised more than $145 million . </P> <P> In 2017, Facebook used its new fundraising platform to help users raise money for Red Nose Day . Anyone who created a Red Nose Day event could add a donate button to any post . The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matched up to $1 million of donations raised on Facebook . The NBC Telethon for Red Nose Day included special episodes for American Ninja Warrior, Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day; Running Wild with Bear Grylls with Julia Roberts; featuring celebrities and corporate sponsors for their activities, as well as standard telethon show hosted by Chris Hardwick . </P>

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