Latest news with #ElevatePrizeFoundation
Yomiuri Shimbun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Sesame Workshop Receives Elevate Prize Catalyst Award as It Charts a New Path for ‘Sesame Street'
The Associated Press Sal Perez, executive producer and VP of Sesame Street at Sesame Workshop, talks to Bert and Ernie after winning the Elevate Prize Foundation's Catalyst Award, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Miami Beach, Fla. MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Elmo, Abby Cadabby and the rest of the 'Sesame Street' gang will get some high-profile help as they travel down a new road. The Sesame Workshop – founded in 1969 and currently working on its 56th season, but its first that will not be distributed by PBS or HBO – received the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award Wednesday, which will provide the nonprofit a $250,000 grant as well as support in promoting its work from the Elevate Prize Foundation. Previous winners of the award include Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, actor Michael J. Fox, and NBA great Dwyane Wade. 'They haven't just entertained generations – they've educated, advocated and inspired real change,' Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram, said as she presented the award to The Sesame Workshop at the foundation's Make Good Famous Summit in Miami Beach, Florida. 'And their work hasn't just been confined to the screen. Through their nonprofit, they've expanded their mission globally. They've created real world programs that bring education, health and hope to millions of children in over 150 countries.' Sal Perez, the show's executive producer and a Sesame Workshop vice president, said the organization planned to use the award to let more people know that its nonprofit work extends beyond the TV show. 'We do a lot of work around the world with direct services, trying to provide content for families that talks about some of those harder to talk about subjects, whether it's trauma, whether it's homelessness and things of that nature. So this is an opportunity to highlight that kind of work.' Perez told The Associated Press in an interview before the ceremony that there would be news about Sesame Workshop's future released 'in the coming days.' Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery decided not to renew its deal for new episodes that air on HBO and Max, though episodes will remain on the streaming service until 2027. ''Sesame Street' is not going to go away,' Perez said. 'It will never go away. It's obviously been a beloved show for so long.' However, there are changes coming to the new season, which currently has no distribution deal. Perez said the segments on the new season will be longer and 'really focused on character,' while also focusing on its audience's emotional well-being and development. 'The more kids want to hang out with our characters on 'Sesame Street,' the more they're going to take in those lessons,' said Perez, adding that there would also be updates to the show's look and feel. The new season will also feature more exploration of the 'Sesame Street' neighborhood and a look inside the legendary two-story brownstone at 123 Sesame Street. Though Sesame Workshop does not currently receive any government funding, Perez urged viewers to support public media, especially following President Donald Trump's recent executive order to cut funding to PBS and NPR. 'We believe in the power that public funding has for children's media,' he said. 'I think people should support their local PBS affiliates and support children's media because it is an entry point for children to really start to see the world outside of their homes.' Jayaram said she felt the time was right to for the Elevate Prize Foundation to stand with The Sesame Workshop and its work. 'This is a foundation that's about social impact,' she said. 'So the symbolism of us joining forces with a children's program is to say that even though our leaders are grown adults, it's the child in all of us that we need to revive and remember our essential values as humans.' Famed roommates Bert and Ernie were on hand to receive the award alongside Perez with their trademark banter. 'We are so proud to make the Catalyst,' joked Ernie. 'One day we'd also like to make the Dog-alist.' In a video acceptance, Abby and Elmo took their own swing at explaining the award. 'It's like a spark that makes good change happen – kinda like magic,' explained Abby. 'Elmo really likes being a catalyst,' said Elmo.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sesame Street Recognized for Essential Global Impact, Receives $250,000 from Elevate Prize Foundation
Elevate Prize Foundation recognizes the characters of Sesame Street for their legacy of teaching generations of children to prioritize compassion, kindness, and well-being, spotlighting the need to ensure their future. Past recipients include Dwyane Wade, Michael J. Fox, Matt Damon, George and Amal Clooney, and Malala Yousafzai. MIAMI, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elevate Prize Foundation presented the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award today to the characters of Sesame Street for their transformative impact on generations of children through their purpose-driven storytelling. Given onstage to Sesame Workshop — the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street — at the Foundation's Third Annual Make Good Famous Summit by its Founder Joseph Deitch and CEO Carolina García Jayaram, the award celebrates the iconic children's show and its 55-year legacy as a trusted source of educational excellence and emotional support for children worldwide, and looks to ensure its future for new generations. The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award recognizes prominent figures who use their influence to inspire global social action. To advance their mission and scale their work, recipients receive $250,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as valuable development resources and partnership opportunities. Past recipients include Dwyane Wade, Michael J. Fox, Matt Damon, George and Amal Clooney, and Malala Yousafzai, among others. "On behalf of my friends at Sesame Street, I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when we reflect on the emotional well-being of children and families. With 1 in 5 children facing mental health challenges, our work feels more important than ever," said Sal Perez, Executive Producer of Sesame Street. "This award will help sustain Sesame Workshop's support for children and families facing some of the toughest challenges — whether that's struggling with mental health, experiencing homelessness, or having a parent who is struggling with addiction, and will support our ability to deliver on our nonprofit mission of helping children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder." Perez also announced the start of production for the 56th season of Sesame Street, in which the beloved program will be reimagined, giving attendees of the Make Good Famous Summit a sneak peek of what's to come. "We've always been committed to the idea of Sesame Street being a radical experiment, and that's the organizational ethos inspiring our latest season. We're reimagining the show, introducing a new format and an all-new animated segment exploring never-before-seen locations. The new structure will enable us to deliver more comedy and playability, so children can extend the experience beyond the screen by imagining themselves playing with or as their favorite Sesame Street friends. And, of course, we'll be welcoming celebrity guest stars to delight parents and caregivers," shared Perez. Perez, together with Bert and Ernie, accepted the award during the closing session of the Make Good Famous Summit, a global gathering of activists, changemakers, storytellers, leaders, and culture-drivers that began on May 12. Held under the theme "A New Era of Impact," this year's convening encouraged attendees to challenge traditional models of philanthropy and impact and take bolder action, build community, and push for inclusive, actionable solutions to social challenges. "We are proud to present this year's Elevate Prize Catalyst Award to Sesame Street — not just for decades of impact, but for proving that cultural storytelling is a frontline tool for global change. For over 50 years, Sesame Street has done what few institutions have: created a trusted space where children — and the adults who love them — develop empathy, resilience, and the value of belonging. At a time when disinformation, division, and mental health crises are surging worldwide, we cannot afford to lose public programs that model compassion and inclusion at scale. Without programs like Sesame Street, we risk a generation of children growing up without a shared moral compass or safe space to process the world around them. But if we protect and invest in this kind of storytelling, the upside is exponential — a society better equipped to raise informed, emotionally healthy, and socially conscious leaders," said Carolina García Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation. A diverse slate of leaders attended the Make Good Famous Summit for discussions on the role of culture, storytelling, and community well-being. Featured speakers included Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation; Kamala Avila-Salmon, Founder and CEO of Kas Kas Productions; Richard Casper, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CreatiVets and a 2025 Elevate Prize winner; Tim Chau, CEO and Co-Founder of Impact Media; Bing Chen, CEO and Co-Founder of Gold House and 2025 Elevate Prize winner; Abigail Disney, filmmaker, philanthropist, and activist; Crystal Echo Hawk, Founder and CEO of IllumiNative and a 2023 Elevate Prize winner; Ahmed Faid, Co-Founder and CEO, Dose of Society; Tommy Marcus, content creator and activist known as @ Dr. Amishi Jha, Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, Tynesha McHarris, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of The Black Feminist Fund; and Didier Sylvain, Founder and CEO of The Presence Project. The Summit also reunited this and last year's Elevate Prize winners — an inspiring group of social impact leaders driving transformative change around the world. Through funding, capacity building, and strategic amplification, the Elevate Prize supports these leaders in raising the visibility of their work and scaling their impact to "Make Good Famous." About the Elevate Prize FoundationFounded in 2019 by businessman and philanthropist Joseph Deitch, the Elevate Prize Foundation is a global nonprofit on a mission to Make Good Famous. To ensure lasting impact, the organization is committed to bringing visibility to the work of changemakers and inspiring audiences on an international scale. The foundation's signature program is its annual Elevate Prize, which is awarded to 10 global leaders tackling pressing issues in innovative ways. The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, another one of the foundation's programs, recognizes prominent individuals for their commitment to inspiring global social action and using their influence for the good of humanity. The foundation also operates the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award, a monthly grant to fuel grassroots movements and organizers on the frontlines committed to collective action and building power among communities. The foundation's latest endeavor, Elevate Studios, was launched in 2025 to finance and distribute purpose-driven content. For more information, visit and follow @ElevatePrize on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Media ContactsErin Mulholland, 484.753.4384, Dingwell, 202.873.3401, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Elevate Prize Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Amidst Global Rollback of Women's Rights, Elevate Prize Foundation Pledges $1M to Equality Now Over the Next Decade
'This isn't just about funding. It's a call to action - especially to men. Men need to step up and stand beside the women who have carried this fight for too long.'— Joe Deitch, Founder and Chairman of the Elevate Prize Foundation MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES, May 14, 2025 / / -- Equality Now, along with their Global Executive Director, S. Mona Sinha, has been awarded the 2025 Elevate Prize Founder's Award in recognition of the organization's transformative role in the reform of 120 sex-discriminatory laws—from child marriage and rape to digital safety, inheritance, and citizenship—that deny women and girls their rights and full potential around the world. The Elevate Prize Founder's Award celebrates innovation and purpose, recognizing game-changing social entrepreneurs or endeavors. The award comes with an unrestricted grant designed to drive greater impact and meaningful change. In recognition of the vital work Equality Now is championing in creating a just and equal landscape that allows women and girls to reach their full potential, the organization will receive $1 million over the course of 10 years, marking a decade-long commitment to supporting Equality Now's work. Gains in gender equality are increasingly under threat from rising authoritarianism, shrinking civic space, and deep cuts to funding for women's rights. In response, the global human rights movement is calling for renewed, sustained investment in the rights and futures of women and girls. According to the United Nations, it will currently take nearly 300 years to achieve full gender equality, despite a global pledge to do so by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals. 'This isn't just about funding. It's a call to action - especially to men,' said Joe Deitch, the Founder and Chairman of the Elevate Prize Foundation. 'We are so much more, so much better, when we have access to each other's perceptions and talents and strengths. Men need to step up, speak out, and stand beside the women who have carried this fight for too long.' For over 30 years, Equality Now has driven global legal reform for women and girls through expert advocacy, strategic litigation, partnerships, and grassroots collaboration. As a recognized international human rights expert, convener, and reformer, the organization shapes better laws, unites powerful movements, and holds power to account—delivering systemic change and advancing equality worldwide. 'Receiving the Elevate Prize Founder's Award is a powerful affirmation of our mission,' said Mona Sinha. 'Legal equality is not just a technical goal—it's a promise to women and girls everywhere. It means a girl can walk safely to school, a woman can own her own home, raise her voice, earn a living, and shape the society she lives in. This award shines a light on the transformative power of law to unlock their full potential.' Recent research confirmed that gender equality indirectly benefits whole populations. Allowing women to achieve their full economic potential could add trillions of dollars to the global economy. The unrestricted grant Equality Now is receiving from the Elevate Prize Foundation will enable the organization to expand its global strategy, which targets the root causes of legal inequality through five interconnected pillars. These include engaging governments and international bodies to adopt or reform 75 laws and standards that strengthen multilateralism and human rights protections as well as improving legal access for women and girls worldwide; strengthening women-led movements in over 60 countries to sustain reform and resist democratic backsliding; and ending gender-based violence by advocating for survivor-centered legal systems in 10 nations. Additionally, it will champion women's rights-informed digital rights to safeguard privacy and combat tech-facilitated violence, while its economic justice agenda seeks to reform laws that restrict land ownership, inheritance, and divorce. 'Legal equality is a first step—but not the last,' said Sinha. 'The law must be a catalyst for cultural transformation. And that requires allies. It is especially powerful to see a leader like Joe [Deitch] stand in solidarity with women and girls. Joe's leadership reflects a growing global movement of men standing as true allies in the pursuit of gender equality—a vital step toward transforming the harmful social norms that hold back entire communities.' ******************************************************************* About Equality Now: Founded in 1992, Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of all women and girls around the world. Our campaigns are centered on four program areas: Legal Equality, End Sexual Violence, End Harmful Practices, and End Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique needs of adolescent girls. Equality Now combines a unique blend of legal expertise, advocacy and partnership to achieve legal and systemic change to benefit all women and girls and works to ensure that governments enact and enforce laws and policies that uphold their rights. About the Elevate Prize Foundation: Founded in 2019 by businessman and philanthropist Joseph Deitch, the Elevate Prize Foundation is a global nonprofit on a mission to Make Good Famous. To ensure lasting impact, the organization is committed to bringing visibility to the work of changemakers and inspiring audiences on an international scale. The foundation's signature program is its annual Elevate Prize, which is awarded to 10 global leaders tackling pressing issues in innovative ways. The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, another one of the foundation's programs, recognizes prominent individuals for their commitment to inspiring global social action and using their influence for the good of humanity. The foundation also operates the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award, a monthly grant to fuel grassroots movements and organizers on the frontlines committed to collective action and building power among communities. The foundation's latest endeavor, Elevate Studios, was launched in 2025 to finance and distribute purpose-driven content. For more information, visit and follow @ElevatePrize on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Tara Carey Equality Now +44 7971 556340 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How The Elevate Studios Is Using Storytelling To Make Good Famous
Elevate Prize Winners (from left to right): Hannah Fried, Sean Sherman, Imran Ahmed, Fre Tachea, ... More Michèle Traoré, Richard Casper, Yordanos Eyoel, David Flink, Bing Chen, Lisa Hunter Romanelli In a cultural moment saturated with content but starved for meaning, the Elevate Prize Foundation is carving out a bold new role for storytelling in the fight for social change. Led by CEO Carolina Jayaram and Head of Studio and Creative Partnerships Eva Bloomfield, the organization has launched a new creative studio aimed at amplifying the voices of changemakers through powerful, accessible content—and shifting culture along the way. Elevate is known for its tireless support of transformative social changemakers - ten of whom were named winners of the 2025 Elevate Prize in February. They include a James Beard-winning chef revitalizing Indigenous food systems, champions of neurodiversity and inclusive storytelling in Hollywood, and many other leaders who are paving the way for more resilient communities that reflect the world's diversity and can help heal growing division. 100% of previous winners who have completed their two-year program and visibility support with EPF have seen an increase in funding. Carolina Jayaram, CEO of Elevate Studios From the outset, Elevate has championed a big idea: building a global fanbase for good. As Jayaram explains, this wasn't an overnight idea. 'The genesis was the very beginning days of Elevate,' she said. 'From the start, we used to talk about building a global fan base for good.' That mission has led to years of experimentation—pilot programs, giving circles, and creative campaigns—all aimed at figuring out how to reach and activate the public in meaningful ways. Elevate has taken that challenge seriously. Over the past three years, its storytelling efforts and press outreach have generated more than 20 billion media impressions—a testament to the growing appetite for stories that spark connection and purpose. But over time, a bigger vision emerged. 'We've been in the business of making content on behalf of our winners for a long time,' she said. 'But launching a studio positions us differently—not just as a foundation, but as a creator. It changes how we can work with distributors, filmmakers, and platforms like YouTube.' The goal is to make sure the stories of Elevate's prize winners aren't just shared—they're seen, felt, and acted on. Since the launch of Elevate Studios, that strategy has already gained serious traction, with more than 60,000 new subscribers joining the Elevate audience. Eva Bloomfield, Head of Studio and Creative Partnerships That mission is what drew Eva Bloomfield to join the team as Head of Studio and Creative Partnerships. 'The Elevate Prize Foundation operates at a very unique nexus point,' she explained. 'It's that intersection of powerful, accessible, entertaining storytelling and true, tangible, meaningful impact.' Bloomfield brings a deep belief that culture change isn't just a byproduct of social progress—it's a necessary ingredient. 'People talk a lot about systems change and policy change. Those are essential. But for real, lasting transformation, hearts and minds have to shift, too.' Both Jayaram and Bloomfield are passionate about storytelling as a tool for building empathy and sustaining change. As Jayaram noted, 'We haven't done a good enough job of storytelling as a sector. We haven't made the case for the incredible value of this work—and how it affects every single person on the planet.' That also means thinking differently about where and how stories are told. As they build out the studio's capabilities, Elevate is tapping into a broad and often underutilized pool of talent: digital-native influencers and content creators who want their platforms to matter. Elevate recently partnered with Instagram creator @dudettewithsign, known for witty protest-style messages. The collaboration was a refreshing success. 'She had never been approached by a nonprofit before,' Bloomfield said. 'And she was thrilled to lend her platform to work she believed in. There was an incredible outpouring of support from her audience.' The insight? There's a whole world of influential media voices who care deeply about these issues—but have never been invited to participate. This, Elevate believes, is where real cultural traction lives—not in distant press releases, but in feeds and formats that people engage with daily. 'This work can't be in the shadows,' Bloomfield added. 'It needs to be baked into the DNA of our daily lives. We have to go where people already are.' Authenticity is non-negotiable. Elevate's first studio project—a short-form documentary series on YouTube called Nevertheless —puts that principle into practice. The series has already amassed more than 2.4 million views across its three episodes and has achieved an average engagement rate of 11.9% across all platforms, including YouTube—well above industry benchmarks and proof that audiences are not only watching, but engaging deeply with the content. The format was chosen to ensure accessibility and wide reach, but the production approach was just as intentional.'There's a lot of responsibility in storytelling,' Bloomfield said. 'Even with the best intentions, if the storyteller doesn't have lived experience, it can be harmful.' That's why Elevate worked hand-in-hand with the women featured in the series to shape the narratives. 'It was very collaborative. They told us how their stories should be told.' The crew included local talent from the communities being filmed, alongside a small filmmaking team from Romani Films, a husband-and-wife duo known for their respectful, human-centered work. What's next for Elevate's storytelling ambitions? The door is wide open. Looking ahead, Elevate's creative ambitions are just getting started. While the studio launched with documentary content, they're actively exploring other formats—from narrative features to social media series to live stage productions. 'It's less about the medium,' Bloomfield said, 'and more about the story—and the platform that reaches the right audience.' Jayaram sees an opportunity to change how nonprofits and creative industries work together. 'Maybe it's time we stop thinking of ourselves as sitting in the CSR basement,' she said. 'If we can amass our own audiences and create cultural relevance, then we can partner with brands from a much stronger position.' And the results go beyond visibility. Elevate Prize winners who have completed the foundation's two-year program and received storytelling support have all seen an increase in funding—a powerful endorsement of what can happen when great ideas are matched with great narratives. And the invitation isn't just for brands—it's for creators, too. 'If you have the talent to get people's attention—whether it's through comedy, film, or music—use that talent,' Jayaram said. 'You don't have to change what you're doing. Just add a layer of purpose to it and do some good in the world.' In a world overwhelmed by noise, Elevate Prize is turning up the volume on stories that matter—and inviting creators, brands, and audiences to help rewrite the script.
