He Fred Rogers Company Teams Up With Bezos Family Foundation's Vroom To Help Parents Turn Everyday Moments Into Brain Building Moments With Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

First-of-its-Kind Initiative Will Feature Engaging Broadcast and Digital Recognition Videos, as well as Targeted Community Outreach Through "Be My Neighbor Day" Events From Coast-to-Coast

Pittsburgh, PA - July 18, 2016 - Vroom, an initiative of the Bezos Family Foundation, has teamed up with The Fred Rogers Company, creator of award-winning entertaining and meaningful children's media, on an exciting sponsorship of the animated hit PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. The unique approach will feature sixteen 15-second recognition videos created by Vroom to empower parents and caregivers by showing them how to turn the moments they spend with their young children into great brain building opportunities. The new spots, which begin airing July 19 on PBS KIDS, will bookend each episode of the show as Vroom's recognition videos and feature different tips, incorporating topics such as how to foster creativity and communicate effectively. In addition to messaging on PBS KIDS' broadcast and digital channels, the new partnership will deliver special learning resources directly to parents and caregivers during Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood "Be My Neighbor Day" community events, which are taking place in collaboration with ten PBS stations across the country in 2017.
 
"Our mission with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is to foster positive and productive communication and learning opportunities between parents and preschoolers, and Vroom's emphasis on the power of interactivity among kids and families makes this pairing the perfect match," said Paul Siefken, Vice President, Broadcast and Digital Media, The Fred Rogers Company. "We greatly appreciate the support from Vroom, and we share their dedication to helping caregivers from coast-to-coast make the most of their everyday interactions with the children in their lives."
 
"We are excited to collaborate with The Fred Rogers Company, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood's emphasis on parent-child engagement and strong focus on early childhood development make it the perfect fit for Vroom," said Jackie Bezos, President, Bezos Family Foundation. "Any moment is an opportunity to help build healthy brain development in children, so we've customized Vroom broadcast spots to provide families with easy-to-use brain building tips and activities based on the latest neuroscience research."
 
Millions of children and parents watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood every day, and as Daniel Tiger learns and grows, young viewers learn right along with him. Each episode of the series showcases two engaging stories starring 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his best friends, who invite viewers to come with them on fun adventures as they explore the colorful Neighborhood of Make-Believe. The use of irresistible musical strategies reinforces the unique theme of every show, so that preschoolers and parents will want to sing along and incorporate them into their daily lives. The popular animated series was created by some of today's preeminent innovators of quality children's media. Creator Angela Santomero, from lead production partner Out of the Blue Enterprises, is co-executive producer, along with Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company and Vince Commisso of the award-winning animation studio, 9 Story Entertainment.
 
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is the most popular TV series on PBS KIDS among mothers of young children and, on web and mobile platforms, viewers have streamed almost half a billion videos of the show in the past year alone*. The program has garnered a host of prestigious awards and honors, including a 2016 Daytime Emmy^® Awards Nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program as well as a 2016 Parents' Choice Gold Award. It was also named a 2014 Prix Jeunesse International Selection.
 
*Sources: Nielsen NPOWER, L+7, PBS, 3/28/2016 - 4/24/2016, program GAA% LOHw/C<3; Google Analytics for Desktop, Mobile, and OTT streams combined, July 2015 - June 2016.
 
About PBS KIDS 
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS also offers mobile apps to help support young children's learning. The PBS KIDS Video App is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS onTwitter and Facebook.
 
About Vroom
Vroom, an initiative of the Bezos Family Foundation, provides tools and resources that highlight the science behind early brain development, empowering parents and caregivers to turn everyday activities like bath time and mealtime into brain building moments for their children. The Daily Vroom mobile app and companion materials deliver fun, interactive tips parents can use to support early brain building that are free of cost, simple enough to fit into their daily routines, and right at their fingertips. For more information, visitjoinvroom.org or follow Vroom on Facebook and Twitter. 
 
About The Fred Rogers Company
The Company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred's values and approach to other efforts in promoting children's social, emotional and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. The Fred Rogers Company continues to build on Fred's legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company's highly-rated children's TV series include DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD, PEG + CAT, and ODD SQUAD. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org.