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Learn MoreMy job involves a lot of very serious conversations about some very serious things. And I’m certainly not alone. Over the past few years it seems that all of our jobs, and our lives, have become very, very serious.
After all, there is a lot to be concerned about. And in my role as CEO of Comic Relief US, I spend a lot of time listening to the stories of people and communities who are enduring some extremely difficult situations.
But do you know what I also encounter every single day in my work? Joy — and laughter.
It sounds counterintuitive, but let me explain: One consequence of the upheaval in the U.S and overseas since 2020 has been the growth of creative, impactful organizations led by people who identified needs that were not being addressed in their communities, and stepped up to make a difference.
Community-led organizations are creating positive and sustainable change by empowering people to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. And the energy of people who are committed to transforming their communities — who are on the frontlines working on solutions like offering personalized health care to pregnant women who lack access to doctors, or urban farmers who are providing fresh produce to their food insecure neighbors as they employ and train a new generation of farmers and community leaders — is contagious.
It’s also inspiring — especially when those leaders are young people who have identified what they and their peers need to reach their full potential, to be whole and overcome crisis, to have agency over their own lives, and be treated equally. And when you are able to watch as these leaders create this change one step at a time, right in front of your eyes, that is a moment that sparks real and lasting joy.
And at Comic Relief US, our entire mission is founded on the belief that we can accomplish more by harnessing universal feelings that are joyful. We believe that people are more willing to act when they feel good about themselves, and connected to a larger world. And nothing makes people feel more connected than shared laughter.
Of course, while we all love to laugh, comedy can be fraught — let’s face it, most of us are not as funny as we think. That’s why our model depends on working with professional funny people with kind hearts — people like Stephen Colbert and his colleagues who produced PICKLED, the all-star pickleball tournament that will raise money to support our work addressing the impact of homelessness on children and families.
PICKLED is a new direction for us, but it follows in the great tradition of Red Nose Day, which has raised a total of $324 million and positively impacted nearly 30 million children since 2015. But instead of wearing Red Noses, Stephen and his friends are picking up their paddles for an evening of competition, comedy and collaboration, with on-air prompts for fans to support with donations, and offline extensions encouraging pickleball players and leagues to start their own competitive fundraising challenges.
Both initiatives are fun and playful and help break through barriers to create special connections for people to engage and take action. Through inspiration and joy, we can come together united in our efforts to make a real difference and build a healthy future for children.
