Successful licensing relationship solidified with multi-year commitment
CLEVELAND, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Following on the heels of a 10-year licensing relationship built on trust and mutual respect, American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) and Sesame Workshop signed a contract that joins the two entities for many years to come. What started as a licensing agreement for greeting cards, gift enrobing and stickers in 1999, has now evolved into a multi-faceted commitment that not only delights children and families with Sesame Street favorites like Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and the newest monster, Abby Cadabby on product, but also supports Sesame Workshop's programs and initiatives including sponsorship of children's programming and funding educational content that helps children everywhere learn and grow.
This long-term partnership includes licensing the Sesame Street trademark and characters in the U.S. and Canada on greeting cards, party goods, gift packaging, ornaments, juvenile valentines and sponsorship of Sesame Street on public television (PBS KIDS). American Greetings is also a sponsor of various multimedia educational outreach programs developed by Sesame Workshop including Talk, Listen, Connect II: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes, which is intended to help children within military families who are experiencing deployment, homecomings associated with multiple deployments, and changes related to a parent who returns home with an injury. All materials created for this initiative are available in both English and Spanish.
Separately, American Greetings and Sesame Workshop have expanded the partnership internationally to include licensing agreements in Mexico, Australia and the UK.
"Our relationship with Sesame Workshop is one of outstanding collaboration in creating great product and respected working relationships within different departments of our organizations," states Michael Brown, Vice President of Licensing, American Greetings. "The relationship has been beneficial to American Greetings as it has provided us the opportunity to grow on many levels and recognize the reason why we do this everyday -- for children and their parents/caregivers to celebrate special events while making the world a better place!"
"We are proud to stand with American Greetings as we work together to make children's lives full of purpose, accomplishment, fun and joy," said Maura Regan, Sesame Workshop's Vice President and General Manager of Global Licensing. "From developing quality products to supporting our educational programming, American Greetings' commitment to children creates a lasting impact."
About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.8 billion. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com .
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the non-profit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 120 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children's health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a non-profit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop's educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesamestreet.org .
SOURCE American Greetings Corporation
International News / Press Release source: PR Newswire
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