52. SAMATAMASON
“Sesame fights the battle of being a household name. Everyone thinks they already know everything about them. The trick with this annual report was to get people to take another look and see what they’re doing now,” says Dave Mason of SamataMason.

Part of what they’re doing now is taking on critical issues in other countries, working with local organizations to identify needs, and coproduce shows. The Sesame characters featured in this report are helping children learn about HIV in South Africa, respect for diversity in the Middle East, and girls’ education and literacy in Egypt and Afghanistan.

“People think Sesame is for profit, but they’re not,” notes Mason. “This status report lets organizations that fund Sesame Workshop programs know their money is being well spent.” For more than 35 years, Sesame has been known for exploring challenging issues with humor, gentleness, and fuzzy characters in lots of bright colors. Working with the people at Sesame was a great experience for Mason. “I never saw a frown on anyone’s face,” he says. “They work hard, are incredibly committed to what they are doing, and believe they can make the world a better place. And they do.” Laurel Saville