Household-Based mostly Media Firm Makes use of Tech to ‘Ship Good to the World’

For Michael Lowe and Neil Gruninger, “Be the change you need to see on this planet” is considerably greater than a phrase discovered on espresso mugs or the lips of yoga instructors – it’s a enterprise mannequin.  

As founders of A Father or mother Media Co. Inc. (APMC), they’ve been on the forefront of making Secure Streaming™ for youngsters within the digital area, first with Kidoodle.TV® after which with their in-house ad-monitoring service, Secure Change™. Nonetheless, whereas the duo continued innovating options to maintain youngsters secure in a digital realm, they realized their efforts would show meaningless if children felt unsafe within the bodily world. What’s extra, they’re transferring to deliver philanthropy to the forefront of their model.  

“Mike and I’ve aspirations to take the Secure Streaming mission off-screen by working with charities and social impression platforms to make sure households have the essential must reside, be taught and have enjoyable,” says Gruninger, APMC’s co-founder, president and chief product officer. 

As a Secure Streaming service, Kidoodle.TV is taken into account a protected surroundings designed to permit youngsters the liberty of exploring a digital platform with out encountering inappropriate content material, together with problematic adverts. It additionally permits caretakers the choice to manage content material, time entry and restrict advert publicity by way of the alternatives they’re given – which might be underneath an account-based subscription mannequin, an account-based ad-supported mannequin or with out an account in any respect. 

The evolution of Kidoodle.TV from a subscription-based OTT service to a free, ad-supported mannequin permits customers to make the most of the expertise, no matter monetary means. “Households want ease of entry with out sacrificing security. We offer fast and quick access throughout a variety of platforms and over free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels that don’t require an account, whereas guaranteeing that content material and adverts are moderated and child-friendly,” notes Lowe, APMC’s chief govt officer. “This shift was a constructive side that advanced as we grew, making us take the time to note extra about our customers and query what different constructive impacts we might create.” 

Now APMC is embracing the facility of leisure to encourage a legacy of change. Its efforts have centered on 4 areas — sustainability, schooling, amplification and group — with an understanding that producing philanthropic change begins with using the assets at one’s fingertips. For APMC, examples embody Kidoodle.TV’s advert stock, prompting Lowe and Gruninger’s determination to donate 5% of their advert area to charities engaged in fields which might be significant to their younger viewers, like Make-A-Want Basis. Gruninger says, “We estimate that we’ll have served over 60 million advert impressions in help of assorted teams by the tip of 2022.”  

He provides, “As we proceed to develop, we’re sourcing native charities, communities and social impression platforms to assist us help households in want. Most just lately, we’ve chosen to work alongside two nationwide foundations, each centered on supporting households in disaster. Mamas for Mamas noticed the group’s current dedication to feeding 15 households for the upcoming yr. We additionally labored with the nonprofit Baby2Baby this vacation season, making a direct impression on youngsters dwelling in poverty throughout the nation and serving to the group proceed to offer susceptible households with winter necessities.” 

Kidoodle.TV’s success has additionally allowed APMC to increase its charitable giving by investing in causes that assist households in want. So far, the corporate has sponsored native occasions, labored with fundraisers for the Boys and Women Golf equipment of Canada and labored with content material suppliers to produce toys and presents to households of youngsters receiving medical remedy. Partnering with organizations that may correctly determine the wants of the group is essential for Lowe and Gruninger. 

“We’ve been extraordinarily lucky over the previous few years as households from around the globe have chosen to incorporate Kidoodle.TV of their lives,” Lowe states. “This progress has enabled us to present again to our communities in methods which might be significant to our group.” 

APMC just lately engaged with social media motion #ClearTheList, which raises consciousness about classroom provide shortages, serving to lecturers entry essential gadgets on their want lists. The group subsequently stuffed each trainer’s want listing at an underfunded elementary faculty in Mesquite, Texas.  

“Finally, whereas exploring what it means to be ‘secure,’ we discovered that youngsters can’t safely stream on-line with out first being in a secure bodily surroundings – a Maslow’s-hierarchy-of-needs type of thought,” provides Lowe. “This impressed us to start placing assets towards supporting secure bodily environments.” 

The duo has an acute understanding that wholesome households breed wholesome communities and, of their quest to create true generational change, have utilized that understanding on quite a few events. Not too long ago, APMC paired with Stephen’s Backpacks Society to ascertain a secure surroundings for a household of 4 fleeing home violence. The corporate sponsored outfitting a house with gadgets the household wanted to get began. The purpose was to make sure they weren’t solely geared up to outlive however to thrive. Along with important gadgets, like beds and home equipment, APMC additionally supplied an out of doors barbecue, expertise and meals.  

“We went there personally to assist construct out and embellish the house bought for this household in want,” says Gruninger. “We donated furnishings, toys and, most significantly, made certain they may fill their fridge filled with meals for a yr with grocery present playing cards. Our group was personally concerned in creating a powerful constructive expertise on a private stage.” 

Whereas spreading social good for households and kids is a prime precedence for the corporate, APMC has discovered extending this philanthropic method to workers reaps its personal dividends. “Throughout the pandemic, we gave our workers an additional full week of paid day off to recharge and regroup, throughout what we known as a ‘One for Me!’ wellness week,” explains Gruninger. “Generally it’s the surprising comfortable surprises that assist preserve us going.” 

Wider scale charitable initiatives are already within the works for 2023. APMC believes it’s uniquely geared up to ship constructive change and invitations different content material creators and model house owners to affix its mission. “For a myriad of causes, we predict it’s essential for everybody to put money into communities and enhance the usual of wellbeing for all, whether or not that’s to enhance financial outcomes, lower crime or accomplish different objectives,” says Lowe. “Nonetheless, with tech, we’ve the flexibility to realize broader attain to communities around the globe and a chance to the touch them in several methods. Finally, expertise is usually a great mechanism to attach and ship good to the world.”