Newark Teens Step Up To The Mic With M&M'S® For Fifth Annual Red Nose Day

Comedians from Upright Citizens Brigade Help Local Youth to Harness the Power of Laughter

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May 13, 2019, 09:00 ET

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., May 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth year in a row, M&M'S is partnering with Red Nose Day to help America come together to raise money for children in need. In support of the campaign, this year the brand is working with Covenant House Newark, a beneficiary of Red Nose Day, to encourage local young people to find their own comedic voice.

NEWARK TEENS STEP UP TO THE MIC WITH M&M’S® FOR FIFTH ANNUAL RED NOSE DAY - Comedians from Upright Citizens Brigade Help Local Youth to Harness the Power of Laughter

Building on last year's successful program in Chicago, M&M'S is enlisting coaches from popular improv comedy troupe, Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City, to help teach local young people served by Covenant House New Jersey in Newark how to use laughter as a tool to share their stories. The trainings will culminate with a final performance in front of an audience of media, influencers, family, friends and the local community at The Prudential Center on Monday, May 13, in an event titled, "Step Up to the Mic: An Evening of Comedy with M&M'S In Support of Red Nose Day." Newark-based comedian, Justin Williams, will serve as the emcee and performers from Upright Citizens Brigade will be on hand to add even more fun to the evening.

"M&M'S were first manufactured in Newark and the city is extremely special to us as we prepare to come home with Mars Wrigley Confectionery's U.S. headquarters opening here next year," said Allison Miazga-Bedrick, Brand Director, M&M'S. "The M&M'S charcters have been making people laugh for years and, like Red Nose Day, we know the power and importance of laughter, so together we're excited to bring that to Newark this year."

M&M'S will be donating over $1 million to the Red Nose Day Fund this year, resulting in more than $8 million dollars since the beginning of the partnership to support programs that ensure children in need are safe, healthy and educated, both in the U.S. and around the world. One of the nonprofit organizations that benefits from Red Nose Day funds is Covenant House, which provides a safe place and support for homeless youth and teens.

To support Red Nose Day pick up one of the five new Red Noses at your local Walgreens and post a photo wearing it to your social channels using #NosesOn, donate or make an even bigger impact by starting your own fundraiser. You can also purchase select M&M'S products at Walgreens that support the cause.

Red Nose Day's Night of Special Programming on NBC
Red Nose Day is Thursday, May 23. The annual fundraising campaign will culminate in a night of primetime programming on NBC at 8/7c, including a special Red Nose Day edition of "Hollywood Game Night" hosted by Jane Lynch, in partnership with M&M'S, and the fifth annual "Red Nose Day Special," featuring great comedy, music and compelling films shedding light on children in need.

All for a Good Cause
Red Nose Day came to the United States in 2015, bringing Americans together to have fun, raise money and help change the lives of children in need. Through the generosity of millions of supporters, Red Nose Day has raised nearly $150 million over its first four years, benefitting over 16 million children and young people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and some of the most underserved communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

To learn more about M&M'S Red Nose Day efforts, follow M&M'S social channels, Twitter @mmschocolate, Facebook www.facebook.com/mms and Instagram at www.instagram.com/mmschocolate. And check out hashtags #NosesOn and #RedNoseDay across social channels for more information.

About Mars, Incorporated
Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With more than $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's^®, SNICKERS^®, TWIX^®, MILKY WAY^®, DOVE^®, PEDIGREE^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, WHISKAS^®, EXTRA^®, ORBIT^®, 5™, SKITTLES^®, UNCLE BEN'S^®, and COCOAVIA^®. Mars Associates proudly take care of half of the world's pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our more than 115,000 Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign run in the United States by Comic Relief USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Red Nose Day started in the U.K., built on the foundation that the power of entertainment can drive positive change, and has raised over $1 billion globally since the campaign's founding in 1988. Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in 2015 with a mission to end child poverty, and has raised nearly $150 million to date. Money raised supports programs that ensure children in need are safe, healthy and educated, both in America and around the world. Since launching in the U.S., Red Nose Day has received generous support from millions of Americans, hundreds of celebrities and many outstanding partners, including Walgreens, NBC, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Red Nose Day returns for its fifth year on Thursday, May 23, 2019. For more information about Red Nose Day USA and its impact, visit www.rednoseday.org. Follow @RedNoseDayUSA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About Covenant House
For 30 years, Covenant House New Jersey has helped more than 1.5 million youth transform their lives. Opening with an initial drop-in center in New York City in 1972, Covenant House is now a movement: the largest charity in the Americas dedicated to helping children and youth find safety, shelter, and opportunity. We reach nearly 80,000 youth in 31 cities in six countries annually. Covenant House New Jersey has programs in Newark, Atlantic City, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Asbury Park, Camden, and Montclair. CHNJ provides food, clothing, shelter and an array of comprehensive services to homeless and trafficked youth.

About Upright Citizens Brigade
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre was launched in New York City in 1998 by Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh. Today, UCB has theatres on both coasts, where we entertain hundreds of thousands of comedy fans, annually. In addition to our theaters, we run the Upright Citizens Brigade Improv and Sketch Comedy Training Center. Our highly trained faculty represents the best writers and performers working in comedy today. Over the last 15 years, UCB has developed a unique unified curriculum that is constantly updated and improved by the best improvisers in the world.

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated