Mattel donating career Barbie dolls to children of first responders

Mattel Reveals #ThankYouHeroes Initiative for Children of Essential Workers The initiative will benefit the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), which will be gifted up to 30,000 dolls. Donations of Barbies dressed as doctors and food service employees will match each one sold starting May 14 until the 17th. Mattel's Lisa McKnight, via press release FRCF president Jillian Crane FRCF president Jillian Crane #ThankYouHeroes joinsthe toy manufacturing giant's 'Play It Forward' platfo

Barbie is giving back to those working on the coronavirus front lines.

Mattel, the maker of the dolls, announced in a news release that the company is donating a doll for every career doll sold from May 14-17 to the First Responders Children's Foundation.

The foundation provides financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty and "families enduring significant financial hardships due to tragic circumstances," according to the organization's website.

»COMPLETE COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS

When an eligible career doll is purchased, Mattel will donate one to the First Responders Children’s Foundation.

"As Barbie has always highlighted role models to inspire the limitless potential in the next generation, we are proud to launch a program celebrating the real-life heroes working on the front lines and supporting their families through the First Responders Children's Foundation," Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel, said in a statement. "We want to do our part to give back and inspire today's kids to take after these heroes one day."

Mattel announced its #ThankYouHeroes program which will donate a career doll for every one purchased to children of first responders.

Credit: Mattel

icon to expand image

Credit: Mattel

“First Responders Children's Foundation is excited to deploy Barbie to first responder families across the country during a time when their children are in need of a little joy in their lives,” Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children's Foundation, said in the release. “There's no doubt that first responders on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are sacrificing so much to protect our families, and it's our responsibility as a nation to help them through this crisis by providing grants, scholarships and partnerships such as our program with Mattel that encourage consumers to support these efforts with the buy a doll, donate a doll program that benefits first responder families.”

Crane also said the partnership marks the start of the foundation’s Happy & Healthy Child Program, which will support year-round needs of first responder’s children.

Career dolls include Career dolls include a nurse, doctor, veterinarian, "baby doctor," firefighterpediatricianwildlife veterinarianentomologistdentistastronaut and scientist.

Dolls under the promotion also go beyond first responders and STEM careers. A teachersoccer coachpilotphotojournalistnews anchorpop starathleteballerinagymnastsoccer playerboxertennis playerbaristafarmerchefdog trainer and animal rescuer are also eligible under the #ThankYouHeroes program.

More information on the dolls and the full range of ones under the program are at Barbie.com.