The Pokémon Company International has pledged a minimum of $25 million over five years to charities committed to improving the lives of underprivileged children.
The funds will be delivered to charities on a local, national, and international scale “that support children, help create equitable communities, or a combination of both”. The Pokémon Company International, which controls the Pokémon brand outside of Asia, will share the funds throughout North and South America, Europe, and Oceania.
A plethora of Pokémon toys, trading cards, and video games will also be delivered to groups that distribute such items to children, and who wouldn’t have access to them otherwise.
“The Pokémon Company International is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the communities in which it operates and where Pokémon has been so warmly received since it was first introduced,” said company president Kenji Okubo.
“Pokémon is a brand that immediately sparks joy and has captured the imaginations of kids around the world for 25 years. With its universal themes of adventure, friendship, and perseverance, it has also been welcomed into the lives of an incredibly diverse fanbase in countries around the world,” he continued.
“We are dedicated to leveraging that unique ability and the support we’ve received from our broad community of trainers to be a positive force in the lives of children and create a more equitable, inclusive world in which all can flourish.”
Pokémon is a brand present on all fronts, with the more known video games – like the upcoming Scarlet and Violet – and trading cards just part of its overall reach. The company is also working on a reality TV show, has released a classy collaboration with Converse sneakers, created its own museum exhibits, and even produced official music with pop stars including Katy Perry.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.