Beloved children’s series honors the Connecticut senator, recognizing his work on the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act
Wonderama has presented U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) with the “Wonderama Wonder Award,”recognizing his work advocating for stronger protections for children and young people in the digital world.
The recognition highlights Sen. Blumenthal’s work on the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), legislation he introduced alongside Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) aimed at establishing additional protections for minors using social media and other online platforms.
“Wonderama is all about inspiring kids to discover their best selves and giving every child the confidence to say, ‘I can do that too.’ That is why we are so honored to present Senator Richard Blumenthal with the Wonderama Wonder Award. His extraordinary and steadfast work to protect children and families across the nation, particularly his leadership on the Kids Online Safety Act, embodies exactly what this award was created to recognize. We are truly fortunate to have his leadership at the forefront of this critically important effort.”
— Charles Armstrong (President, CEO and Executive Producer of Wonderama Entertainment Holdings)
The Kids Online Safety Act focuses on safeguarding minors from online risks while giving young users and families greater control over potentially addictive platform features and personalized recommendation systems. The legislation also includes additional privacy and parental-control provisions.
Blumenthal has made online safety for children a significant part of his legislative agenda and has pushed for greater accountability and transparency from technology and social media companies regarding the experiences of young users.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award from Wonderama. Nothing is more important than our children and their wellbeing — they are 100 percent of our future. I will fight as long and hard as necessary to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, my bipartisan legislation to keep children safe online and hold Big Tech accountable.”
— Senator Richard Blumenthal
The recognition also drew congratulations from Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance, who highlighted the significance of Wonderama and the Wonder Games bringing the award to the Crossroads of the World.
“Congratulations to Senator Richard Blumenthal for receiving the first-ever Wonderama Award in the heart of Times Square for all his great work to protect children online,” said Harris. “Times Square is a place for all, especially children and their families, and I’m proud that the Crossroads of the World was able to play a part in this award through Wonderama and the Wonder Games.”
— Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance
The Wonderama Wonder Award reflects the program’s continuing commitment to children and families while recognizing individuals whose work addresses issues affecting young people.
For Wonderama, the recognition also connects the program’s celebrated history with its evolving role in the lives of today’s families. While generations have grown up with Wonderama’s signature combination of entertainment, games, music and imagination, the program continues to engage with issues facing children in a rapidly changing world.
About Wonderama
Wonderama is a children’s entertainment franchise with roots dating back to 1955, historically known for combining music, games, celebrity guests and audience participation for a family audience. Its current iteration continues that legacy while engaging young viewers and families on issues including online safety and accessibility.
About the Kids Online Safety Act
The Kids Online Safety Act is bipartisan federal legislation introduced by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The legislation proposes additional safeguards for minors using online platforms, including tools for young users and parents and requirements addressing certain platform features and recommendation systems.
Watch the award presentation on Vimeo here:
https://vimeo.com/1227099356?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci