MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Elmo, Abby Cadabby and the rest of the 鈥淪esame Street鈥� gang will get some high-profile help as they travel down a new road.
The Sesame Workshop 鈥� founded in 1969 and currently working on its 56th season, but its first that will not be distributed by PBS or HBO 鈥� 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 , actor , and NBA great .
鈥淭hey haven鈥檛 just entertained generations 鈥� they鈥檝e educated, advocated and inspired real change,鈥� Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram, said as she presented the award to The Sesame Workshop at the foundation鈥檚 Make Good Famous Summit in Miami Beach, Florida. 鈥淎nd their work hasn鈥檛 just been confined to the screen. Through their nonprofit, they鈥檝e expanded their mission globally. They鈥檝e created real world programs that bring education, health and hope to millions of children in over 150 countries.鈥�
Sal Perez, the show鈥檚 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.
鈥淲e 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鈥檚 trauma, whether it鈥檚 homelessness and things of that nature. So this is an opportunity to highlight that kind of work.鈥�
Perez told The Associated Press in an interview before the ceremony that there would be news about Sesame Workshop鈥檚 future released 鈥渋n the coming days.鈥� 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.
鈥溾�橲esame Street鈥� is not going to go away,鈥� Perez said. 鈥淚t will never go away. It鈥檚 obviously been a beloved show for so long.鈥�
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 鈥渞eally focused on character,鈥� while also focusing on its audience's emotional well-being and development.
鈥淭he more kids want to hang out with our characters on 鈥楽esame Street,鈥� the more they鈥檙e going to take in those lessons,鈥� 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 鈥淪esame Street鈥� 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 to cut funding to PBS and NPR.
鈥淲e believe in the power that public funding has for children鈥檚 media," he said. "I think people should support their local PBS affiliates and support children鈥檚 media because it is an entry point for children to really start to see the world outside of their homes.鈥�
Jayaram said she felt the time was right to for the Elevate Prize Foundation to stand with The Sesame Workshop and its work.
鈥淭his is a foundation that鈥檚 about social impact," she said. "So the symbolism of us joining forces with a children鈥檚 program is to say that even though our leaders are grown adults, it鈥檚 the child in all of us that we need to revive and remember our essential values as humans.鈥�
Famed roommates Bert and Ernie were on hand to receive the award alongside Perez with their trademark banter. 鈥淲e are so proud to make the Catalyst,鈥� joked Ernie. 鈥淥ne day we'd also like to make the Dog-alist.鈥�
In a video acceptance, Abby and Elmo took their own swing at explaining the award.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a spark that makes good change happen 鈥� kinda like magic,鈥� explained Abby.
鈥淓lmo really likes being a catalyst,鈥� said Elmo.
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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP鈥檚 collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP鈥檚 philanthropy coverage, visit .
Glenn Gamboa, The Associated Press
