Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
Dr. Seuss wrote these words in 1971’s The Lorax, and today Dr. Seuss Enterprises keeps the caring going with a wide range of philanthropic endeavors.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises was founded in 1993 as a way to protect the life’s work of Theodor Seuss Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss, after his death in 1991. This didn’t just mean protecting his stories, but also his values and ideals. Seuss was an active member of his community, serving on several nonprofit boards, so it was imperative to the company to keep contributing to communities through both financial aid and service.
Readers marvel at the creative and whimsical worlds found in Dr. Seuss’ works. Each of these stories also includes wide-ranging themes that emphasize the importance of kindness, empathy, friendship, environmental stewardship, and inclusion. Dr. Seuss Enterprises supports this legacy by supporting organizations that contribute to our communities in meaningful ways and put a focus on these themes.”
OH, THE PLACES THEY’VE GONE
There are six main focuses for the philanthropic endeavors of Dr. Seuss Enterprises: Literacy and Education, Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion, Environment, Arts, and Animal Welfare. Through these sects, the company donates time and money to multiple organizations, including First Book, the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, and more.
Seuss himself wrote of the wonders of reading throughout his career. To honor this legacy, for seven years, Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Creative Minds Publications have teamed up with the NFL for the annual Tackle Reading event (pictured above). The goal of the event is to inspire a love of reading in kids from underserved schools across the country. In addition to reading a Seuss classic to the students, former and current NFL players answer questions and give motivational messages. At this year’s event, Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children’s Books donated a book to every student who participated, as well as shirts and school supplies for all of the teachers. The event made reading enjoyable, much like the works themselves.
“A person’s a person no matter how small,” and the dream of an awesome birthday is no small wish. The organization also partners with The Birthday Party Project to help these small kids in a big way. This nonprofit aims to keep childhood birthdays as magical as possible by throwing celebrations for kids who are experiencing homelessness. Last year, Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children’s Books donated a Dr. Seuss book every time a monetary donation was made to the organization. These books were given to the kids as birthday gifts.
HORTON HEARS A HOW
“Dr. Seuss Enterprises focuses on promoting literacy, education, self-confidence, and the wonderful possibilities of a child’s imagination through the works of Dr. Seuss,” Brandt adds. “With that, it’s imperative that we give back through a wide scope of organizations that lean into these core values and contribute to our communities in meaningful ways.”
In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch learns through trials and tribulations that the biggest gift of all is that feeling you get when you offer warmth and compassion to those who need it most. In this spirit, last holiday season Dr. Seuss Enterprises partnered with Petfinder and the Arizona Humane Society to help our furry friends. Kids read the whimsical book to the shelter pets to give them the friend they need. At the same time, a #FindYourMax social media campaign was kicked off to try and help hard-to-adopt pups find a home in time for the holidays.
With each Dr. Seuss story comes a lesson and with each Dr. Seuss Enterprises collaboration comes a story of how that lesson was brought into the real world. The words most of us grew up reading were meant to inspire and the company brings that aspiration into play. That’s enough to make all of our hearts grow three sizes.
A version of this feature was originally published in the 2023 Toy Fair issue of The Toy Book. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!
