New York, NY, November 3, 2010: Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street and its co-productions around the world, and MetLife Foundation will be expanding their nutrition and healthy habits educational outreach program targeted to children, parents, and educators.  Through a USD $500,000 grant from MetLife Foundation to Sesame Workshop based in New York, Sesame Workshop will be able to create and deliver additional Sesame Street content promoting healthy habits in India and Mexico.
Galli Galli Sim Sim is a multimedia educational initiative that launched its television program in India in 2006. The series facilitates young Indian children’s basic academic skills as well as life skills, while celebrating India’s rich cultural diversity.  Specifically in the area of health, the project is committed to helping children learn about good habits, reflected by a strong curricular focus on nutrition and safety.  In so doing, the project aims to spread the message that acquiring healthy habits early in life is as important to a child as learning early mathematics and reading skills.
With the grant, Sesame Workshop will produce a brand-new, 15-minute Galli Galli Sim Sim radio program as part of its educational outreach initiative.  The radio series will air on All India Radio (AIR) in 11 cities and six states three times a week during a 52-week period, enabling Galli Galli Sim Sim content to reach millions of children and families who have no access to television.  In addition, Galli Galli Sim Sim’s Healthy Habits for Life campaign television episodes will be re-broadcast on Cartoon Network and Pogo. The topics covered include personal routines, hand washing with soap, healthy foods, balanced diet, physical activity, the importance of sleep, and immunization.  Lastly, the new grant will allow for additional runs of an animated health message that was specially created for MetLife Foundation to air before episodes of Galli Galli Sim Sim.
Plaza Sésamo Hábitos Saludables, or Plaza Sésamo Healthy Habits for Life, is a multimedia initiative that harnesses the power of Plaza Sésamo to deliver age-appropriate, educational, and compelling health messages to meet the specific needs of Mexican preschoolers.  The cornerstone is the Plaza Sésamo television series, which reaches more than 12 million households.  Co-produced in Mexico with Televisa since 1972, and with additional support from Discovery Kids since 2003, Plaza Sésamo features the beloved characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abelardo, Lola and Pancho.  Research has shown that Plaza Sésamo Hábitos Saludables is successful: Mexican children expressed greater knowledge of nutrition and hygiene after watching related Plaza Sésamo content.
The grant will allow for additional runs of an animated health message that was specially created for MetLife Foundation to run before episodes of Plaza Sésamo aired on Televisa.  Plaza Sésamo episodes will continue to include a special focus on topics related to healthy habits, including hygiene, nutrition and food, physical exercise, and road and fire safety.  In addition, 20,000 more healthy habits educational outreach kits will be created and distributed to the North, South, and Central regions of Mexico with the help of government and civil society partners.  The kit includes a book entitled Move and Eat Well with Plaza Sésamo, containing short stories focused on nutrition, exercise, and knowledge and awareness of the body and, in particular, the heart; a “measuring tape” poster/growth chart highlighting tips for parents to reinforce healthy habits they are practicing with their children; a classroom poster for teachers featuring health messages to complement the activities children are practicing at home, and a new poster for teachers serving as a training resource that includes guidance on effectively using the materials in different settings.
“MetLife Foundation’s original grant enabled us to successfully meet our goal of delivering critically needed health content and messaging to children and families across India and Mexico,” said Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop.  “With these new funds, we’re able to build on the work we have accomplished, and to deepen our impact and reach through new multimedia educational activities in both countries.  We are incredibly grateful for the Foundation’s continued and generous support.”
“MetLife Foundation is proud to continue its partnership 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 look forward to strengthening and expanding the impact of these programs and building on our commitment to improve the health and well-being of the next generation.”  
In October 2009, MetLife Foundation made a generous grant of $550,000 to Sesame Workshop in support of Healthy Habits for Life in India through Galli Galli Sim Sim and the Plaza Sésamo Hábitos Saludables initiative in Mexico. These two projects consisted of on-air and educational outreach activities that helped children in both countries develop critical health habits and behaviors.
 
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 over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company.  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.  Grants support health, education, civic and cultural programs.  The Foundation contributes to cultural organizations, 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.