#ThankYouHeroes

Let’s face it, 2020 has not gone the way we thought it would. Here we are in August, and life is still so uncertain for us all. I look at my 5 year old, and how he has had to adapt to our new normal and I am so proud of how he has handled it all. It has still been difficult for him though. He misses his friends. He misses going to visit family. And boy did he miss going to school and church on a Sunday.

I am so thankful that we have not been sick this year. We have been very lucky. I know parents who’s children have contracted the virus and have had to be hospitalized. My heart goes out to every sick child and their parents – I can only imagine how stressful that must be.

This is where Mattel South Africa and Barbie comes in. They have launched an incredible programme called #ThankYouHeroes. For the month of August, Mattel will donate one Barbie doll for every eligible Barbie career doll bought from ToysRUs. How amazing? The dolls will be donated to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The Red Cross will then distribute the donated dolls to children in their hospital who have been diagnosed with corona virus.

This is such an incredible initiative, that is a part of Mattel’s “Pay It Forward” platform. I love how Mattel is working hard to give back to communities during these uncertain times.

Inclusivity and diversity is so important, and Mattel has identified about 200 careers so far, showing young girls that they can be and do anything they want.

“We want to do our part to give back and inspire today’s kids to take after their heroes one day.” Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel

Mattel’s goal with the #ThankYouHeroes programme is to donate approximately 1500 dolls to The Children’s Hospital Trust, “an NPO that raises funds to advance child healthcare through the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. From upgrades to its buildings and facilities, to the implementation of several projects and programmes and upskilling of medical professionals from across Africa.”

If you would like to buy an eligible Barbie career doll, you can visit any ToysRUs nationwide.

About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends™ and MEGA®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.

About The Children’s Hospital Trust
The Children’s Hospital Trust was established in 1994 to fundraise for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and in 2011 expanded its reach to fundraise for paediatric healthcare in the Western Cape and beyond. Since 1994, the Trust has proudly assisted the Hospital to upgrade its buildings and equipment and to develop its professional staff. 100% of all donations go directly to the Hospital and prioritised paediatric healthcare needs, and not a single cent is spent on administration costs. The Trust is a non-profit organisation that relies on the benevolence of donors to realise its aims and objectives. It enjoys a record of sound financial administration and good governance, but whilst it has raised funds to address many pressing needs, much has yet to be done. www.childrenshospitaltrust.org.za.

About The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital was built in 1956 and remains a cornerstone of child healthcare in Southern Africa. The Hospital is the first stand-alone tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa, dedicated entirely to children and manages 250 000 patient visits each year. Most of these patients are from poor and marginalised communities and one third are younger than a year. The Hospital’s patients are referred from the Western Cape, the rest of South Africa and our continent. The Hospital provides training to paediatric healthcare professionals from the entire sub-continent and does important research into the illnesses of childhood, which has global impact.