Barbie is known for her many careers — now she’s taking on the role of frontline pandemic workers with six new dolls.
As part of the #ThankYouHeroes initiative, Mattel is creating one-of-a-kind role-model Barbies based on real heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also donate $5 per Doctor, Nurse, or Paramedic doll sold at Target throughout August. This donation will benefit the First Responder’s Children’s Foundation (FRCF), which helps the families of frontline workers who died serving their communities.
The six new dolls are created to look just like their real-life counterparts. The women being honored are:
- Amy O’Sullivan, RN treated the first COVID-19 patient in Brooklyn, became ill herself, and recovered to return a few weeks later and save even more lives.
- Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz joined forces with other Asian-American physicians to combat racial bias and discrimination.
- Dr. Chicka Stacy Oriuwa has advocated against systemic racism in healthcare, which has been further highlighted by the pandemic.
- Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus is a biomedical researcher credited with leading the sequencing of the genome of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil.
- Dr. Kirby White co-founded the Gowns for Doctors initiative, which kept frontline workers in Victoria, Australia safe with laundered PPE.
- Professor Sarah Gilbert led the development of the University of Oxford vaccine in the U.K. as a professor of vaccinology.
Today, Barbie also announced the introduction of the Fast Cast Clinic playset, which includes a Doctor doll, a medical station, an exam table, an x-ray machine, and a gift shop. Kids can use the included dough to create and shape casts, create wraps with the bandage maker, and play out roles across the medical field.
#ThankYouHeroes was founded last year as part of Mattel’s larger Play It Forward platform to honor those who have fought against COVID-19 and the everyday heroes who have kept their communities running. Up to $50,000 will be donated between now and Aug. 28. Head here for more info!
