Free digital content kits featuring beloved Sesame Street characters will be made available through a US$1 million donation from Mylan.
HERTFORDSHIRE, England, PITTSBURGH and NEW YORK -- Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ: MYL) and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, today announced a new effort to help children and families cope with the ongoing transitions and uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a US$1 million donation from Mylan, Sesame Workshop will create a series of educational resources and engaging videos to meet the pressing socio-emotional needs that families across generations and around the world are experiencing.
The new resources, which will be available in multiple languages as part of Sesame Workshop's Caring for Each Other initiative, will help families navigate difficult topics and address the emotions many children and caregivers are experiencing, such as anxiety, frustration, sadness, and grief. Designed to help families build resilience, establish comforting routines, and foster a sense of hope and optimism, the resources will also celebrate frontline workers like healthcare providers and medical supply chain workers and their families, who are facing unique pandemic-related challenges. In addition to financial support, Mylan will share the resources with its 35,000 employees around the world so that they and their families also can benefit from this initiative. The effort forms part of Mylan's continued commitment to ensure access to medicines, services and social impact initiatives that deliver better health for a better world.
Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said: "While Mylan and many other members of the global healthcare community have been busy responding to the physical need for care and access to medicine amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the social and emotional toll of these unprecedented times has also continued to grow. Around the world, children and their caregivers may be experiencing a sense of loss, isolation, or uncertainty, and aligning our efforts with Sesame Workshop – an organization known the world over for its award-winning children's programming – to support families during this time of need provides a wonderful opportunity to help."
Mylan Executive Chairman Robert J. Coury added: "For nearly 60 years, Mylan has been committed to the cause of providing access – both to the medicine we manufacture and also to resources and support through our community outreach efforts. We're proud to ensure that legacy continues through today's announcement with Sesame Workshop and look forward to continue supporting long-term recovery efforts around the world."
Sesame Workshop's President of Social Impact and Philanthropy Sherrie Westin commented: "At Sesame Workshop, we know how important it is to establish a foundation for overcoming challenges and building resilience from a young age. With the tremendous uncertainty that children and families are facing the world over because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we're grateful for Mylan's support as we equip families with the tools they need to overcome the challenges of today and thrive into the future."
The new resources will be released on a rolling basis starting this fall around the world, including the U.S. and markets in Latin America and Europe, as well as India, South Africa and more. The digital content will be distributed through a wide range of channels, including platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and social media, as well as through on-the-ground community providers and partners to ensure even those in difficult to access areas are able to benefit from the free materials.
Today's announcement is part of Sesame Workshop's Caring for Each Other initiative, which was created in response to the uncertainty facing young children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic and has reached families in over 90 countries and nearly 40 languages. SesameStreet.org/caring is regularly updated to meet the needs of families as the situation evolves, with free resources designed to help parents provide comfort and manage anxiety, as well as help with creating routines, fostering playful learning at home, and staying physically and mentally healthy.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We're present in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.sesameworkshop.org.
