Eighty-eight million were collected for UNICEF on Red Nose Day last Friday and nearly 4,000 people registered as special foster parents to disadvantaged children.
This was Iceland’s first celebration of Red Nose Day, a UNICEF event designed to support children in Africa. The day was started by British charity Comedy Relief in 1988.
On 1 December well-known Icelandic comedians entertained television viewers with a three-hour-long standup while people called in to support UNICEF’s work in Africa.
According to Fréttabladid, a total of ISK 88 million (EUR 956,370, USD 1.3 million) was collected because of contributions from callers and sale of red noses and charity CDs. Iceland’s Foreign Ministry contributed ISK 30 million (EUR 326,035, USD 434,153).
After this year’s Red Nose Day, Iceland has 11,600 foster parents supporting disadvantaged children around the world.
The foster parents send ISK 1,000 (EUR 11, USD 14) a month to support a child in need, providing him or her with food, clothing, housing and education.
To read more about Red Nose Day in Iceland, click here.
