Genius Brands International has partnered with the MaskClub.com subscription service run by the license apparel company, Trevco, to bring the cast of its popular Llama Llama series to the cloth mask market.
As part of the initiative, GBI will be donating a percentage of the proceeds to the Save the Children organisation, a group for which, Jennifer Garner, a starring voice in the Llama Llama series on Netflix, serves as an Ambassador on the Board of Trustees.
For every mask purchased, MaskClub is also donating a medical grade mask to First Responders Children’s Foundation for distribution to paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, firefighters, and medical personnel treating Covid-19 patients.
The company launched by donating by donating an initial 5,000 masks in April. All cloth masks featured on MaskClub.com are designed to be a protective covering for your face as advised by the CDC.
“When we learned from Trevco about the launch of Maskclub.com and all of the wonderful work they are doing on charity front to make a difference during this time, we knew we wanted to immediately get involved,” said Lloyd Mintz, senior vice president, global consumer products, Genius Brands. “We are honoured to have Llama Llama be a part of this initiative, and we look forward to donating to Save the Children in author Anna Dewdney’s memory.”
Trevor George, CEO of Trevco, added: “The past weeks have been a whirlwind. We are beyond grateful for the amount of attention and support we have received for Maskclub.com and we are so pleased to work with Genius Brands to add the tremendously popular Llama Llama brand to our offering.”
Save the Children Patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, has marked the end of Save the Children’s successful Save With Stories initiative with a reading of Thomas and the Royal Engine.
The video has been shared on Save the Children UK’s Instagram page and is the final installment of the fundraising initiative which has seen over 70 well-known faces reading an array of bedtime stories. As well as keeping millions of families entertained during lockdown, the initiative has helped to raise funds for the charity’s Emergency Coronavirus Appeal.
The appeal has so far raised £1.4m to support families in the UK and around the world, those whose lives have been devastated by the pandemic.
The Princess Royal became the Patron of Save the Children in 2017 after serving as President since 1970. She chose to read Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine, a story which sees Thomas overcoming various obstacles to get The Fat Controller to collect an award from the Queen.
The Princess Royal said in her video: “It has been my pleasure to read this book to you today, one I enjoyed when I was young.”
Having travelled to over 20 countries with Save the Children The Princess Royal goes on to note that “there are many more similarities than dissimilarities particularly amongst the things that children enjoy, and story-telling is very high on that list.”
Following the success of the US campaign led by actors Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams, Save the Children Ambassador Poppy Delevingne launched the UK version of Save With Stories in mid-April at the height of lockdown.
The Princess Royal joins niece-in-law Meghan Markle, who marked her son Archie’s first birthday with a reading of Duck! Rabbit!, and an array of other famous faces from the world of film, TV, theatre, music, fashion and beyond, who have all taken part. Amongst the names are actors Paul Mescal, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Michael Ward and Benedict Cumberbatch, singers Rita Ora, Liam Payne and Jade Thirlwall, presenters Fearne Cotton and Jon Snow, activists Sinead Burke and George the Poet and Oscar winner Rachel Shenton, who signed a Peppa Pig story.
Save the Children UK ambassador Poppy Delevingne added: “It is an honour to have The Princess Royal reading the last book in our Save With Stories initiative. I was so delighted to launch the campaign here in the UK, not only to raise money for those so badly affected by the pandemic but because all these joyful readings have offered children and parents alike some respite and enjoyment during lockdown.”
Gemma Sherrington, executive director of fundraising and marketing at Save the Children said: “We are thrilled that Save With Stories has captured the imagination of families across the UK over these past 11 weeks. It feels right that after 50 years of support for Save the Children it is Her Royal Highness who read the last story. We are incredibly grateful for her unwavering support.
“We must also thank all of our famous friends who have brought these stories to life every day, along with all the publishers for providing the incredible array of books, and most importantly all those who have generously donated money to help us support the millions of vulnerable children here in the UK and across the world who are feeling the impact of Coronavirus.
“What started as a simple idea to entertain families across the country and raise money for children around the world has turned into an incredible shared experience and the money raised by Save with Stories will be vital for families in the UK who continue to face severe hardships including food poverty and a lack of essential items.”
In the UK, Save the Children is supporting families with a new emergency grants programme – providing household items and help with bills to families in crisis. And around the world Save the Children is working to keep essential programmes going – whether through strengthening infection prevention control in a child-friendly space, making sure health facilities have the right supplies or ensuring education programmes can continue remotely.
Save With Stories has been supported by the publishing community, with Scholastic, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Andersen Press, Walker Books, Egmont and inclusive children’s bookshop, Little Box of Books, supplying books from their libraries to be featured as part of the initiative.
The videos are currently available on Save the Children UK’s Instagram and Facebook pages. To donate visit savethechildren.org.uk/savewithstories or you can text STORIES to 70008 to give a one-off donation of £5*.
All money raised will support the most vulnerable families in the UK and around the world, helping to provide supermarket vouchers, essential household items, virus protection and early learning packs.
