TV & VIDEO - Feb. 6, 1990

HBO’s Comic Relief Relieves Homeless: “This is tortilla money from Manuel Noriega,” Robin Williams told New York Mayor David Dinkins Sunday as he presented the city with a $227,000 check for the homeless from Comic Relief. The money comes from the $9 million that has been raised by Comic Relief, the HBO telethon that featured Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and other comedians. Comic Relief has donated funds to help the homeless in 23 cities. It has given New York $580,000, which was administered through St. Vincent’s and the United Hospital Fund to pay for the medical care of more than 15,000 homeless people. The charity’s president, Bob Zmuda, said Comic Relief planned to hold its next HBO-sponsored telethon May 12 at Radio City Music Hall.