3:45 P.M. EST 
MODERATOR: (In progress)…is exactly the kind of public diplomacy outreach from the private sector that is so important to our mission in the State Department in establishing relationships with people in another country - other countries. So I can't thank you and Action Products International too much for your time and involving yourselves in our programs, but even more for reaching out beyond our programs to engage directly with the people in Pakistan in this case. So thank you for being here. I'll turn it over to Anne Stone who is a member of the board of Action Products International.
MS. STONE: Thank you, Jeremy. It's a pleasure to be here today, truly. And afterwards, I'll have to tell you more ways that this program has actually spawned other outreach that we aren't even here to talk about today. I would say that -- this program, it was the genesis for this idea. I was in Pakistan in October of last year and they sent me in specifically to mainly talk to women about political empowerment and being involved in the upcoming elections. And in the course of it, while I was in Lahore, they said, we want to talk to a madrassa. And I said, madrassa because to Americans, madrassa means trained terrorist, you know. Why a madrassa and they still don't know it's a Sufi madrassa. Okay, so we went to a madrassa and, in fact, I have pictures here from the trip. And we went in the madrassa and we sit down with the principal and vice principal and this is the vice principal. And actually, when this picture was taken was when the idea came. That's why the picture is important.
So he was sitting across from me and he said, Miss Stone, when you go back, will you please let the American people know that not all Muslim men that have beards are terrorists. He said, I think everybody in your country thinks that. And he said, here, we are Sufi. We train, we educate nonviolence. We educate for nonviolence. And the words hit me in my brain and I went - I said, you know, I sit on the board of a toy company, Action Products, and they believe in only making educational and non-violent toys. I think I'm going to ask them if they want to send the children toys. If you teach from the heart non-violence , our toys are about nonviolence. So I emailed the board. They were very excited. Ron immediately said, yes, we need to do this. And then after Lahore, we went to Karachi. And when the station people there heard, they said, well, we want toys, too. So this sort of grew. So I emailed Ron and I said, well, we need to send more toys. And they said, fine, we'll do it. And that's how this came about. So it comes about from the right place from the heart. It comes because of the wonderful State Department program. And as they tell me, this is exactly the kind of outreach they like to see happen as a result of this. So our thanks to the State Department. Just as you thank us, we thank you for this wonderful program. And I want to turn it over to Ron Kaplan who's our chairman and CEO.
MR. KAPLAN: Thank you, Ann and Jeremy, and thank you all for coming today. This is - this turnout is very impressive for us what started as something simple really and as Ann said really just from the heart. There was no hesitation on our part to offer the - to fulfill the request for the donation of toys to these children in Pakistan. And as Ann said, we - our company's positioning, our company Action Products International, Inc., which is based in Orlando, Florida, is all about brands that educate and entertain. And when we say educate, we also talk about appropriate play that is educational and nonviolent.
So Ann told us some of the conditions that the children face. In Karachi and Lahore. And it was just natural for us to be very willing to fulfill this modest request. It did grow a bit and as -- we were able to still supply everything that was requested. And we're just very happy to do so. We believe very much in the value of play. We believe in the special attention that children need especially in areas of the world that are facing the kinds of challenges that are faced in Pakistan and other similarly positioned areas.
We - the fact also that there are orphans involved is something that we feel personally or I feel personally deeply about. And we're just very excited. We have confirmed as of last week that the toys have begun to be distributed as of last week, so they've been received and are getting to the children for whom they're meant. I also - we've brought with us today - I would like to introduce you to Susan Magsamen who is really an expert in the value of play in the development of young children. And I'm sure - I think she has a few words with regard to the individual experiences that the children will be able to share and grow with.
MS. MAGSAMEN: Thank you. There's so much to say about this and I will keep sort of my remarks short, but just a couple pointed things about toys. And I wanted to sort of start on a personal note. When I was 10, I remember going out into the back yard and down the street and into the woods and pretended that I was an adventurer and I was traveling all over the country, exploring the world and our little stream became a river and our little hill became a mountain. And as I grew older, I started to understand that my unique way of learning was through multisensory experiences.
And about 25 years ago, I was asked to develop a program for a children's museum. And what I learned was the way that children learn best is through experience, through our senses -- our senses or how our brain interprets the world. And so Curiosity Kits was born years ago from a museum experience. At that time, there was not a lot collectively known about early learning, brain sciences, child development. I think now we know quite a bit more, while there's still a lot more to know about the way the brain works, the way biochemical engineering happens, in terms of synaptic transmission and things like that. We still - we know a lot more about how the brain works and how we take in the world through a series of electrical responses. So what I learned 25 years ago and have refined over that period of time is this notion that play is the playground for learning and memory. And what is education? How we learn and how we retain that information. So Curiosity Kits and all of the other action products really look at arts, sciences, world culture and make-believe. So when you take products like this, activities like this, and you put them in the hands of children, in essence, it is an adventure in every box. It brings to them an opportunity to be able to explore themselves and to explore their world around them. It also creates an environment that is safe and enriching and creative.
And another thing that we know about learning is if a child is stressed or if a child feels isolated or if there isn't a caring, loving adult that they're working with -- and I think your point about the orphanages is well taken -- in essence, they're not able to learn. And our products, I think, allow a child a respite, a place for a transformation of self and learning the world, for a moment time stands still. So while we are giving toys -- and you may think, well, toys are a commodity here. Toys in the United States are something that just get handed off for birthdays. One of the nice things about what I think we have sent is that they're things that really help a child find themselves and also find a place for themselves.
MS. STONE: Find a voice.
MS. MAGSAMEN: Find a voice. And I think this process of independent thinking is born through that self-exploration and also exploration around the world. So for a moment, we stop time and we really help a child build that self-confidence. You all probably have heard a lot more about executive function in the news and it's a big talk -- it's a lot of talk about how children learn to self-regulate themselves. And one of the things that hands-on-learning products, multi-sensory products do, is help a child find their voice within their play. And that ultimately is a foundation for how they become much more proficient and much more confident as they grow older. So at a very teeny kernel, we are hoping that we've placed a seed for that kind of growth for these children.
MS. STONE: And also to show them that there are people out here that care and that are thinking about them.
MS. MAGSAMEN: Right, right, because, you know, it's children everywhere that develop in the same way. There are all the same developmental milestones and early learning kinds of processes that happen everywhere.
MR. KAPLAN: And I'd just like to say in closing, we again, not only thank you for being here and paying attention, we never expected this kind of reaction. We didn't expect to be here to have an audience to talk with. And didn't expect at the outset that what we were doing was of such big interest, but we're happy that it is. And if it amplifies a message as to the importance of paying attention to the children then we're very, very happy to do this and sure I'm others will as well. So on behalf of Action Products International, thank you very much.
MODERATOR: All right. We're ready for your questions. Please remember to identify yourself and your publication as you're asking questions.
QUESTION: I'm Kathryn McConnell from the State Department. I'm a writer with the Bureau of International Information Programs. How are the toys distributed, through the embassy or through the madrassas?
MS. STONE: Through the embassy. The embassy is going to coordinate. They all went into Karachi and they're being sent out from there to the orphanages and also into Lahore to get to the madrassa.
QUESTION: This is Ali Imran from the Associated Press of Pakistan. I would like to expand on your experience when you first went to a madrassa and you also interacted with children. How was it and you know, what was your impression before going there? And how do you feel now, you know, a sense of fulfillment and a sense of what is sufficient in their growth?
MS. STONE: Well, my impression was exactly as the vice principal said, you know, again, what we hear about here all the time, madrassa -- bad. You know, you hear the word madrassa, you immediately -- this is where terrorists are trained. The first time I ever heard about a Sufi madrassa was when I went as part of this program and I was so thankful, I mean, I was so happy to hear about it. And when they said, you know, we're going to send you to a madrassa. You are, why? You know, it was a real eye opener. The children were wonderful. They asked all kinds of unusual questions and some personal questions. And I said you can ask anything you want. So they were very sweet and very attentive and very polite. And the teachers, too, they were very interested in what was going on. Again, we'll ask -- the younger children will ask more personal questions than any big issue questions or, you know, they weren't quizzing me on the U.S. elections, for example. It was more like, you know, do you have a car? That kind of thing.
QUESTION: And did you feel that kind of universality of feelings?
MS. STONE: Absolutely.
QUESTION: Oneness, you know, especially in the kids.
MS. STONE: Absolutely. They were so cute. I mean, they were just wonderful. Children are children everywhere. And again, that's why I was so excited that Action Products was interested in doing this because it is a universal thing -- children should play. You know, they should have this joy in this life and these children are ones that don't have as much joy as a lot of the other children do. So we're happy to -- even if it's just bringing a little bit of joy in their lives, I think it's a good thing.
QUESTION: Do you intend to take this program to the remote areas and (inaudible)? At the moment you're mostly in the big cities -- Lahore and Karachi, you know, the two big cities of the country -- and especially to the North-West Frontier Province, which is the target for the State Department and the Government of the United States for development?
MS. STONE: And I was in (inaudible) and that was -- actually I was there before we had the idea about the toys, otherwise I think we probably would have expanded there. I think we'll wait and see how this goes and not close that door. But also the toy industry -- you want to talk about the Toy Industry Foundation --
MR. KAPLAN: Well, I would say -- we're going to talk with other partners in the toy industry to see what more can be done. But we didn't really start it as a program. It was just fulfilling a request. So even as yet, we're not thinking of it as a program. But we are going to investigate that a bit further and certainly would support all parts of the nations.
MS. MAGSAMEN: I think it's fair to say that the response has been so extreme from children and teachers and parents that I don't think any of us had an idea that the need was so great. And that's been really great and I think we've all been sort of taken aback by that.
QUESTION: And are you hopeful of response from others in the toys industry?
MR. KAPLAN: Yes, we are hopeful for participation in the future with other partners from within the toy industry and around the globe.
QUESTION: And this is the first ever kind -- this kind of experience your company has?
MS. STONE: Yes.
MR. KAPLAN: This is the first type of experience like this that our company has had, yes, giving internationally.
QUESTION: Anwar Iqbal from Pakistan DAWN newspaper.
MS. STONE: And a TV station as well.
QUESTION: Yes, they do. Why just the Sufi madrassas? I mean, there are other madrassas also and children going to madrassas related to Sufi or not Sufi. I'm sure they're not terrorists. I've been to hundreds of madrassas that are not Sufi and middle students and I'm sure they're not terrorists.
MS. STONE: Again, we're dealing with the ones that we were introduced to by the State Department and starting there. Whether it goes beyond that, we'll see how it goes.
MR. KAPLAN: It started as really just a circumstance. And again, you know, this was not an organized program on behalf of the private sector participation. And, you know, to your point also, we know that there are all different kinds of people in Pakistan and the region and around the world and that, you know, children are children and that's the way we think of it. We don't - just a circumstance of introductions through the State Department program that determines --
QUESTION: And the city madrasas -- who is --
MR. KAPLAN: -- determine that relationship at this point.
QUESTION: Would you like to involve the Pakistani community living here? I mean, I'm sure there are many rich Pakistanis who would like to help.
MR. KAPLAN: I think there are also people of means in Pakistan as well. I mean, we realize that this is not - you know, that this is really just a specific, I think, something that started. We just fulfilled a request on behalf of people in need who are caring for children in need. And there's nobody we would necessarily exclude or - and as far as including other people, again, today, it's not a program. We are, again, you know, a little - we're very impressed and appreciate of this kind of response and interest, so we would look into it further, but, you know, we have no agenda.
QUESTION: You're not sure whether it's just a one-off thing or it's going to be a regular --
MS. STONE: Don't know.
MR. KAPLAN: It certainly started that way.
MS. STONE: Yeah, it started that way.
MR. KAPLAN: It started that way. But the fact that you're here today tells us something that, you know, maybe this is something that can be pursued further.
MS. STONE: And there's been some talk - there's been some talk with some of the stockholders about what else could we do and should this go forward, so it may well happen. But again, this gentleman should be very pleased because he was the one, by saying we want people to know that, you know, not everybody with a long beard who is Muslim is a terrorist, please send that message back. And it was his discussion and his concern that the American public have a correct picture of, you know, the Pakistan community that spurred this whole thing on. So I think he should be pleased that his message was received.
MS. MAGSAMEN: I want to also - you know, I think there are strategies that companies deploy whenever we - this was an opportunity, a singular opportunity for us that has been like wildfire. It's been so deep and rich and amazing. And I think, you know, you have to really think about, how do you take an opportunity and, to a certain extent, try to understand what's at its essence. I mean, I think what we know is that in this particular experience, there are children that are really moved by the ability to be able to play, and just to play, which is pretty profound. I mean, just as a concept, a very profound idea that you could provide a play environment which is the rich soil for learning. And you know, learning and growth and success through life for children anywhere is really what Action's about at its core and many companies are. And so I think we have sort of - I'll say stumbled onto a good intention that we think has some very significant potential.
MS. STONE: Well, here's another example too. Before I joined the board of Action Products, I actually bought their products for my nieces and nephews. I was always out looking for something educational. I didn't want to give them the usual toys that you'll find in a lot of stores. And it was really funny; when I met Ron's mother through some other activities and found out about the company, I said, "Oh, I've bought this and I've bought that before." And it truly is that - I know from the toys I've given to my nieces and nephews that (inaudible) toy providing a particular play --
MS. MAGSAMEN: -- experience --
MS. STONE: -- can really make a difference in actually having an impact on them as to really taking them in a direction of being more involved in one thing or another. We have a line now, OLogy, that's about the body; and, you know, what child out there might use that toy and then decide to become a doctor, or some of the other toys that we have where you make things. You know, it could end up causing them to go into a different field or understand that maybe they have a creative talent that they didn't know that they had.
So echoing what both Ron and Susan have said, I think sometimes we, as adults, are a little cynical about how important play is. And certainly, in the United States, we're cynical about toys because we give our children too many, and very often they don't appreciate the individual toys. But think about for some of these children, as the teacher said when I said we wanted to send them, they said this would be more than they've ever seen, this would be incredible in their lives. And that's part of what excites us. It could make a real difference. You just never know what one little, you know, gesture of kindness and bringing maybe a little joy in somebody's life could really have a profound impact, and that's what we hope.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MS. STONE: Thank you.
MR. KAPLAN: Any questions, follow-ups?
MS. STONE: Any others?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. KAPLAN: Yes, please go.
QUESTION: Just a couple. You have talked about your impression. And what did you gather from your interaction in the wake of U.S. help for Pakistan especially during the earthquake and the aftermath, you know? What kind of impression, you know, about Americans and about America did the people there have?
MS. STONE: Well, I would say about, you know, 98 percent of the people I interacted with were very positive on America and saw us as an important partner with Pakistan, so I had nothing but favorable interaction. I dealt with a lot of women entrepreneurs, and they looked to the United States for a lot of inspiration for their activities. And this -- these university students were terrific. We had -- boy, did we have some great sessions with them. I talked -- I have a seminar called, "25 Skills You Need to be Successful," and they loved it. It really went over very, very well. And this was with boys and girls. It wasn't just the girls in this case.
QUESTION: And was that university was it in Lahore?
MS. STONE: No, that one was -- let me think. Was it in Islamabad or Karachi? It was either in Islamabad or Karachi. I had women entrepreneurs in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. Met some incredible women with some stories. This one woman whose name I can't recall right now wrote -- she was the one that did the ship wrecking and she's the only --
QUESTION: Oh, that must be Karachi.
MS. STONE: Pardon?
QUESTION: Karachi.
MS. STONE: Karachi, yeah. She was just incredible. She gave me her autobiography she wrote, and I read that on the flight back. That was -- I was very impressed. Met with very, very dynamic political activists, male and female, as well as the entrepreneurs. So I did some business training and some political training while I was there.
QUESTION: And currently, you are reaching out to kids only in madrassas or other schools?
MS. STONE: And orphanages as well. We -- the toy donations are going to orphanages as well as madrassas.
QUESTION: Okay.
MS. STONE: Any others?
QUESTION: I'm going to ask some, but it's going to be on the camera, though.
MS. STONE: Okay.
QUESTION: It's all right, because I need it for TV.
MODERATOR: We'll let your colleagues who only use pencils -- (laughter). Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. (Laughter.)
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