Chicago Pubcasters Receives Educational Grant

CHICAGO: WTTW, a public television station in Chicago, in partnership with W!LDBRAIN Entertainment and The Michael Cohen Group, has been awarded a $32.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support a five-year Ready to Learn initiative.

Ready to Learn will focus on providing educational programming and media for preschool and early elementary school children and their families. WTTW will work with W!LDBRAIN to develop UMIGO (you make it go), a transmedia property created by Michael Polis, president of W!LDBRAIN and executive producer of the hit show Yo Gabba Gabba!. UMIGO will also be developed in collaboration with The Michael Cohen Group, a research and evaluation firm. UMIGO will launch as a web-based property and will later air as a TV series, with a line of consumer products also planned.

This is WTTW’s second Ready to Learn grant.

“As a public television station that devotes half of its broadcast day to educational children’s programming, we are honored that we have been chosen to collaborate on this important project,” said Dan Schmidt, the president and CEO of WTTW. ”This initiative is especially timely, as math and science skills are vital to surviving in our new digital culture,” he added. It is important to note that the funds from this grant are restricted and will go entirely toward this project. This grant allows us to be a part of educating children in the ever-growing digital space.”

“UMIGO is a fun and engaging virtual world where young minds can let their imaginations run wild,” said Polis. “When we were kids, we thought of all sorts of incredible things to invent. UMIGO will test the boundaries of even the most creative imaginations while providing a solid foundation in mathematics,” he continued. “Our multi-platform strategy will make UMIGO accessible to children and families of all socio-economic levels. We look forward to collaborating with WTTW and The Michael Cohen Group on a property that contributes to giving all kids an equal opportunity for success in school.”