Feel Good Friday - Comic Relief

It's been a sad week with the sudden passing of Robin Williams. As more people fill social media with memories of their favorite Robin Williams' films, I wanted to make today's Feel Good Friday about an organization he supported for many years -  Comic Relief.

Comic Relief USA was a non-profit organization "created in 1986 by comedy writer, producer and actor, Bob Zmuda, to raise funds to help those in need." From what I can tell on the website, they have not been active since 2010 but I remember many a fundraising show hosted by Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal. Why shouldn't laughter be a way to help people in need?

For their 20th anniversary in 2006, they raised money for the people of New Orleans who had been affected by Hurricane Katrina. You can watch a clip of Robin's standup from a 1987 Comic Relief show here.

While the US organization seems to be no more, the UK version of Comic Relief, which got its start a year earlier in 1985, is still going strong!

Like its US counterpart, Comic Relief raises money to fund projects that help people in need. You can go to this interactive map to see exactly what they're doing. International organizations they support work on issues such as climate change, people affected by HIV and AIDS and people affected by conflict. Domestically they support issues related to mental health, young people and alcohol and using sport for change.

Since 1988, Comic Relief has celebrated Red Nose Day. From the website, "It's the one day, every two years, when people across the land can get together and do something funny for money at home, school and work." Doing something funny and wearing a red nose sounds like fun, but then what? "Comic Relief spends the money raised by Red Nose Day to help people living tough lives across the UK and Africa." Kind of makes you want to get a red nose, doesn't it?

You can watch highlights from the last Red Nose Day here or go to their YouTube page for additional videos. To keep up on social media, like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @comicrelief and/or @rednoseday.

Despite the fact that sad things happen in the world , there is always something positive going on and finding those stories is what Feel Good Friday is all about. Thank you for following and supporting us!