Mattel's First Global Day Of Play Brings The Power Of Play To Thousands Of Children

More than 1,000 Mattel Employees Will Volunteer in Support of Hospitals, Schools and Other Children's Organizations Around the World

News provided by

Mattel, Inc.

Sep 18, 2018, 15:00 ET

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced its first-ever Global Day of Play, a companywide, global community service initiative that aims to bring the power of play to children around the world. The Global Day of Play will take place in 26 cities globally on different dates throughout September. More than 1,000 Mattel employees across offices in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America will participate, directly supporting 27 non-profit organizations and impacting more than 5,500 children around the world.

Kicking off at the company's El Segundo headquarters today, Mattel employees will gather to build play houses for families supported by Habitat for Humanity and, in partnership with Save the Children, volunteers will assemble hundreds of "play kits" – backpacks full of toys, games and activities – which will be distributed to kids impacted by devastating emergencies, such as Hurricane Florence. Mattel employees will also volunteer their time to play with hundreds of children from LA's Best, a public/private partnership that provides afterschool enrichment programs for elementary school students throughout Los Angeles, and CoachArt, an organization that creates a transformative arts and athletics community for families impacted by childhood chronic illness. The UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital will be onsite in El Segundo to provide giveaways and information.

Globally, Mattel is partnering with several hospitals including the Faculty Hospital of Bulovka in Bulgaria; OBM – Children Hospital Buzzi Milan in Italy; IPO Lisboa Instituto Português Oncologia Lisboa in Portugal; and Ronald McDonald Houses in the U.K. and Netherlands. Mattel also works with non-profit organizations, such as SOS Villages in Belgium; Smile of the Child in Greece; Save the Children in Mexico; and many others.

"Mattel's Global Day of Play is a way for Mattel employees worldwide to give back to the communities in which they live, work and play," said Amy Thompson, Chief People Officer at Mattel. "We believe that play is vital for children's development and learning, and we incorporate this philosophy into our products, as well as our philanthropic efforts. Not only do these fun and interactive play experiences enrich the lives of children in need, they also support the passion for play in our employees."

Global Day of Play is organized by the Mattel Children's Foundation, which works to break down the barriers of play for millions of children in need each year.

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 Mattel Children's Foundation
The Mattel Children's Foundation was established in 1978 and is a separate charitable organization incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Since its inception, the Mattel Children's Foundation has focused its strategic grantmaking on one major objective: Improving the lives of children in need. The Mattel Children's Foundation has developed partnerships with exemplary nonprofit partners that demonstrate this ideal through both compassionate outreach to children and strong financial accountability. Since 1978, the Mattel Children's Foundation has played together with thousands of charitable organizations and positively impacted millions of children. Over the years, the Foundation has funded new technologies, after-school activities, literacy projects, and programs to promote the health of children around the world.