Mid-Year Impact Report 2024
Elmo is Just Checking In: How is Everybody Doing?
In nine short words, everyone’s favorite 3 1/2-year-old monster revealed the extent of today’s mental health crisis. The viral response to Elmo’s post on X included celebrities, beloved brands, and even the President. In reaching 218 million people with a simple message of friendship, it reinforced the critical need for our work. With the help of our partners and donors, Sesame Workshop is supporting the emotional well-being of young children and their families and taking action for those whose needs are too often overlooked.
Our Mission in Action
Our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder has never been more vital. See highlights of our work in action around the world.
We’ve grown our efforts to support migrant and refugee families through the resettlement process here in the U.S. We’re expanding our Comfy Cozy Spaces program, a partnership with the nonprofit Early Starters International, and bringing caring support to newly arrived families through child-friendly havens in hotels around NYC. Designed by child development experts, the sites are full of comfy, cozy furniture, games, and activities featuring lovable Sesame Street friends. Through this program, newcomers can find a stable routine, love, care, and joyful opportunities to connect with other children — so important for developing their social and emotional skills.
Letter from the Workshop’s Chief Development Officer
Thank you. If you’re reading this, you care about Sesame Workshop. We are so grateful for every single person who supports our mission, and children around the world have increased opportunities for learning, comfort, and joy thanks to you.
One of my favorite things about the Workshop is the many very different ways we’re able to reach children and families – from preschool programs in crisis contexts, to world-class educational games and media, to the joy of theme park on a sunny day.
And it all springs from one place: Sesame Street. It is the heart of the Workshop, and it has been transforming childhoods and opening doors for 5 decades and counting. I recently watched a “man on the street” video we did a while back, and I was struck anew by the power of the Sesame memories people hold dear. From first-generation children (and sometimes their parents!) learning to speak English with Bert & Ernie to comments like these: “It was the first show that nurtured my imagination.” “It talked to kids in a way that made you want to be smarter and better.” “It taught me that it’s OK to look like me.”
It is impossible to imagine a show with more impact or greater influence. And from our organization-wide focus on emotional well-being for young children and their families, to our Welcome Sesame program supporting children and caregivers affected by crisis and conflict, to our recent fantastic fundraising gala, which many of you attended, Sesame Street fuels every single thing we do. It is our obligation — and our honor — to sustain it for new generations, with the support and collaboration of friends and partners like you. Together, we are doing something critically important: preserving the Street where childhood lives.
With thanks,
Hillary Strong
Supporters & Partners
Philanthropic support powers our mission to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Thanks to our supporters and partners financial and strategic support, Sesame Workshop is reaching more families, educators, and community providers today than ever in our history.
Sesame Workshop’s 21st Annual Gala on May 29 highlighted the importance of reaching children in their critical early years, when they are forming their sense of self and exploring a world of possibilities. Together with our supporters, we celebrated our work and raised $3M to put the youngest learners on a path to thrive – to help build a better world for us all. We’re so grateful to our honorees, Shonda Rhimes and the PNC Financial Services Group, for their exceptional leadership and the profound impact they have had on the lives of children.
On behalf of all of us at Sesame Workshop, thank you for believing in our work and contributing critical funds to make it possible. Hope to see you next year!
Help Prepare the Next Generation to Build a Better World
Make a gift today and help us transform how the world supports children, wherever they may be, for generations to come.
Donate Today
The below is by way of example, your generous donation will be used in a manner that will alleviate the most pressing needs identified by Sesame Workshop.
$20
helps print 4 child-facing storybooks for our Ahlan Simsim program in the Middle East.
$50
helps compile and deliver one early childhood development kit for home-based work in Bangladesh.
$100
helps provide wind up radios with full SD cards to four households.
$250
helps print caregiver-facing content packets that promote nurturing care and support play-based learning for 50 families.
$500
helps purchase and deliver a portable projector package, bringing Sesame video content to learning spaces without electricity.
$1000
helps create a new, illustrated storybook for children living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps.
$2,500
helps produce at least ten multimedia classroom kits, ultimately reaching thousands of children with Sesame content.
$5,000
covers the cost of distribution of one hundred playmats through two strategically selected implementation partners in crisis-affected communities, reaching more than 2,000 children.
March 14, 2023
Sesame Workshop Expands Efforts to Support Ukrainian Children Affected by Ongoing Conflict through New Broadcast
May 16, 2023
New Research Shows Substantial Impact on Children’s Learning from Groundbreaking Ahlan Simsim Initiative Combining Educational Media and Early Childhood Services
March 16, 2023
After Reaching 23 Million Children Across MENA, Ahlan Simsim Debuts New Season, Teaching Young Viewers About Positive Self-Identity
