Sesame Workshop Awarded Grant From MetLife Foundation to Promote Healthy Habits Utilizing the Muppets of Sesame Street

NEW YORK, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has been awarded a grant from MetLife Foundation to promote Healthy Habits for Life with the Sesame Street family in India and Mexico. The initiative will be launched in India via Galli Galli Sim Sim, a multimedia educational initiative that facilitates young Indian children learning basic and life skills, as well as communicates health messages to children, parents, and educators, and in Mexico through the expanded Plaza Sesamo Habitos Saludables para la Vida, a multimedia initiative that harnesses the power of Plaza Sesamo to deliver age-appropriate, educational, and compelling health messages to meet the specific needs of Mexican preschoolers. For more information about these programs, please visit www.sesameworkshop.org/aroundtheworld.

"MetLife Foundation is proud to partner with Sesame Workshop to help educate families in India and Mexico on the importance of establishing healthy habits at a young age," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "We are committed to promoting the health and well-being of the next generation and encouraging parental involvement and family engagement from early childhood."

The grant will enable the production of specially-themed episodes, public service announcements, online content, storybooks, posters, and community events -- all featuring the beloved Muppets of the Sesame Street family. The public service announcements will begin airing in Mexico this month and distribution of the outreach materials is slated for the spring of 2010. In India, public service announcements will begin airing this winter, along with the launch of mobile community viewings of Galli Galli Sim Sim content and online health messages and activities.

"We are thrilled to be able to expand our nutrition and healthy habits educational outreach program in India and to continue to develop and distribute a wide-range of materials for children to learn about critical health issues in Mexico," said Caralynn Sandorf, executive vice president and chief development officer, Sesame Workshop. "Through its generous grant program, MetLife Foundation has a longstanding tradition of empowering communities to make a positive difference. We are so grateful to have its support in providing the tools families need to lead healthier happier lives."

Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children's television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in more than 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation supports programs that improve education, promote health, encourage parental involvement and family engagement, help revitalize neighborhoods and stress accessibility and inclusion. The Foundation contributes to arts and cultural organizations across the United States, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive programming, and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at www.metlife.org.

    Media Contacts:
    Beatrice Chow                           Sarah Faria
    Sesame Workshop                         MetLife
    (212) 875-6586                          (401) 827-3906
    beatrice.chow@sesameworkshop.org        sfaria@metlife.com

    Foundation Program Contact:
    Rohit Burman
    MetLife Foundation
    212-578-3194
    rburman@metlife.com