Globally, Barbie® to spotlight six women who
are modern real-life heroes of the pandemic, honouring them with
their own one-of-a-kind doll made in their likeness
TORONTO, Aug. 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT)
announced today that Barbie® will recognize six women who have
worked tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19 since the pandemic
began. Experts in their fields who have shown unprecedented courage
during a challenging time, these six role models made a positive
impact in their communities, inspiring current and future
generations for years to come.
To thank these real-life heroes, one-of-a-kind dolls made in
their likenesses were created as part of Barbie's ongoing global
initiative called the Dream Gap Project, which introduces girls to
women's stories from all walks of life to show them they can be
anything. This is a continuation of Mattel's #ThankYouHeroes
signature program, launched last year as part of the company's
broader "Play it Forward" platform, focused on leveraging Mattel's
iconic brands to give back to communities in times of need.
In Canada, this recognition and One-of-a-Kind doll will be given
to Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, an accomplished Canadian physician and
spoken word poet, whose work has recognized the importance of
children's mental health and systemic racism in the healthcare
system.
"I remember playing with Barbie as a young girl and imagining
them as having the careers I aspired towards, even if the dolls
weren't dressed like that career. Imagining that they were doctors
and writers and performers allowed me to live out my dreams at an
early age and to explore all the possibilities available to me. I
am truly honoured to be a Barbie Role Model and I hope that I can
inspire the next generation of girls to set goals and work hard to
reach their limitless potential."
With over 200 careers, Barbie continues to celebrate role
models, as every child imagines that they can be anything, but
actually seeing that they can, and hearing the stories of others,
makes all the difference. The brand recognizes that all
frontline workers have made tremendous scarifies when confronting
the pandemic and the challenges it heightened. To shine a light on
their efforts, Barbie is sharing their stories to inspire the next
generation to take after these heroes and give back.
The global lineup of women honoured with a one-of-a-kind doll
includes:
- Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, MD (Canada)- A psychiatry
resident at the University of Toronto,
Canada, Dr. Oriuwa has advocated against systemic racism in
healthcare, which has been further highlighted by the
pandemic.
- Amy O'Sullivan, RN
(United States) - Emergency
Room nurse Amy O'Sullivan treated
the first COVID-19 patient at the Wycoff Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. O'Sullivan later contracted the
disease, and soon after returned to work to continue to help
others.
- Dr. Audery Cruz (United States) - Dr. Cruz, a frontline
worker from Las Vegas, NV, during
the pandemic, joined forces with other Asian-American physicians to
fight racial bias and discrimination.
- Professor Sarah Gilbert
(United Kingdom) - As a
Professor of vaccinology, Professor Gilbert led the development of
the University of Oxford vaccine in the
U.K.
- Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus
(Brazil) - As a biomedical
researcher, Dr. Goes is credited for leading the sequencing of the
genome of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil.
- Dr. Kirby White (Australia) - As a general practitioner in
Australia, Dr. White co-founded
Gowns for Doctors, a gown that could be laundered and
re-used, allowing frontline workers in Victoria, AU to continue seeing patients
during the pandemic.
"Barbie recognizes that all frontline workers have made
tremendous sacrifices when confronting the pandemic and the
challenges it heightened," said Lisa
McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie
& Dolls, Mattel. "To shine a light on their efforts, we are
sharing their stories and leveraging Barbie's platform to inspire
the next generation to take after these heroes and give back. Our
hope is to nurture and ignite the imaginations of children playing
out their own storyline as heroes."
To thank all Canadian frontline heroes who have helped in the
fight against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic,
Mattel Canada will be making a
donation to a local charitable organization.
Today, Barbie is also introducing the Fast Cast Clinic™ playset,
with a Barbie doctor doll and four distinct play areas: a medical
station, an exam table, an x-ray machine and a gift shop. The
innovative new set includes dough that can be shaped to create
leg/arm casts and create wraps with the bandage maker, allowing
children to play out roles across the medical field. With dough
containers to create casts, a set of crutches and over 30+ pieces,
the Fast Cast Clinic playset is available at major retailers for
$74.99.
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy company
and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children's and family
entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative
products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop
children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of
iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®,
American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO® and MEGA®, as well
as other popular intellectual properties 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 35 locations and our products are available in more
than 150 countries in collaboration with the world's leading retail
and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is
proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the
wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.
SOURCE Mattel Canada, Inc.