Proceeds go to help children in 17 countries across Africa, Asia and South America.
This year’s Red Nose Day (Nenäpäivä) fundraising campaign, co-sponsored by Yle, has raised the largest amount for charity in years.
Friday evening’s celebrity telethon raised more than 3.3 million euros, which was 1.25 million euros more than last year.
The telethon was hosted by former Miss Finland Viivi Pumpanen with Yle announcers Janne Kataja and Jussi-Pekka Rantanen.
Smaller amounts were raised through various other Yle TV and radio programmes and channels.
This year’s proceeds will go to help children in 17 countries in Africa, Asia and South America. It will be channelled through nine Finnish NGOs, including the national chapters of Unicef, the Red Cross, Plan and Save the Children, and three affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, one of the country’s two national churches.
Last year’s Nenäpäivä fund drive collected 2.3 million euros, of which 2.1 million was donated by the end of the live TV broadcast.
The fund drive continues through the end of the year.