The Pokémon Company International has announced a five-year mission dedicated to supporting children and social equity. 

For 25 years, the Pokémon brand has been delivering joy and entertainment to fans around the world through video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, animation and more. Now, The Pokémon Company International, the company responsible for the brand outside of Asia, announced it is committing a minimum of $25m over the next five years to organisations dedicated to improving the lives of children and supporting social equity.

“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 Kenji Okubo, president of The Pokémon Company International. “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. 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.”

The $25m will be realised primarily as monetary donations to a predetermined group of organisations that support children, help create equitable communities, or a combination of both. The gift of play in the form of in-kind donations of Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Center products will round out the commitment and be provided to groups who are able to distribute toys and games to families and children in need. Each organisation is intended to be a long-term strategic partner that The Pokémon Company International can support year over year for at least five years. Additional organisations that reflect the company’s philanthropic mission may also be added over the course of the initiative.

As a brand with a worldwide fanbase and as a global corporate citizen, The Pokémon Company International has identified groups operating in three geographic categories: global, regional and local. Organisations that operate without borders and serve children in need in locations around the world represent the first category, while the regional level includes organisations operating within countries where the Pokémon brand has a significant presence across Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania.

Lastly, The Pokémon Company International will be partnering with groups serving the local communities where it has offices in and around Bellevue, Washington and London. To see the full list of all organisations that will be supported by Pokémon’s mission at launch, visit The Pokemon Company International’s website here.