Sesame Workshop Announces Star-Studded Lineup for 18th Annual Benefit on Wednesday, June 2
Tickets Available Now for the Workshop’s First Virtual Benefit, Celebrating Coming Together, the Nonprofit’s Ongoing Commitment to Racial Justice
(New York, NY – May 19, 2021) – Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, will host its 18th Annual Benefit on Wednesday, June 2, inviting attendees to celebrate and reflect on Coming Together, the organization’s ongoing commitment to racial justice. Tickets are available to the general public now at www.sesameworkshop.org/donate/gala.
Held virtually for the first time, the event will be hosted by Gayle King and include special guests Michelle Obama, John Oliver, and Jon Batiste. Artist and activist John Legend will be presented with the Joan Ganz Cooney Award, named for Sesame Street’s co-creator, and Procter & Gamble will be honored with this year’s Corporate Leadership Award. The evening will also feature a poetry reading by Amanda Gorman and additional musical entertainment from Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, along with the Sesame Street Muppets.
“As the painful events of the last year unfolded, we knew Sesame Workshop could play a role in helping children and families grapple with the difficult issue of racism and racial inequity,” said Sesame Workshop President, Sherrie Westin. “With Coming Together, we have deepened our fundamental commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, to directly address racism and provide all-new content and resources to help children understand and appreciate their own identities and those of others. As a nonprofit organization, we are indebted to our partners and donors for making this work possible.
Proceeds raised from the benefit will help Sesame Workshop deliver on its mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Today, the organization reaches children and families in more than 150 countries, including areas where children have little access to quality early education. All of Sesame Workshop’s social impact work – from providing early learning to millions of children affected by the Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises to addressing tough topics like parental addiction, homelessness, and racism here in the United States – is made possible with the generous support of like-minded partners including government, foundations, corporations, and individuals, as well as proceeds from the Annual Benefit Dinner.
Sesame Workshop extends special thanks to The Power of We Host Committee members for their exceptional generosity toward this celebration.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and 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 active 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 sesameworkshop.org.
Contact
Nikki Liberatore; DKC on behalf of Sesame Workshop
Nikki_Liberatore@dkcnews.com
