House Resolution 37

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI-BASED COMPANY GLO AND ITS FOUNDERS, MS. ANNA BARKER AND MR. HAGAN WALKER, FOR GENERATING POSITIVE ATTENTION FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI THROUGH THEIR VISION, CREATIVITY, PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.

WHEREAS, founded in 2015, in Starkville, Mississippi, by Mississippi State University graduates Ms. Anna Barker and

Mr. Hagan Walker, Glo creates products that spark imagination and fun by intersecting light, liquid and learning; and

WHEREAS, within a few years, Glo became a leading innovator in children's sensory toys with the introduction of Glo Pals light-up bath toys, which were inspired by a child with autism who overcame his fear of water with the help of Glo's light-up technology; and

WHEREAS, since 2015, Glo has sold more than 3 million products to customers in nearly 40 countries while donating a portion of profits to the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, a part of Children's of Mississippi in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, outstandingly, Glo has teamed with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, to introduce Glo Pals toys based on beloved Sesame Street characters Julia, a Muppet with autism, and the iconic Muppet, Elmo; and

WHEREAS, Julia and Elmo Glo Pals will debut in April 2021, during National Autism Acceptance Month as part of the "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children" initiative; and

WHEREAS, the new Sesame Street Glo Pals shine a colorful light on the legacy of Mississippi's own Jim Henson, whose beloved Muppets help fill the world with joy, laughter, compassion and a love for learning; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Barker and Mr. Walker have chosen to invest in the future of Mississippi by growing their business in Starkville and contributing to downtown revitalization and the community's economic development and entrepreneurial growth, as they partnered

in the renovation of the Rex Theater, a historic building in downtown Starkville that had stood dark and vacant for decades and now serves as headquarters for Glo; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to honor Mississippians such as, Ms. Anna Barker and Mr. Hagan Walker, who are committed to improving the lives and health of children and families while helping build a brighter future for Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the vision, creativity, philanthropy and community leadership of Glo, and its founders, Ms. Anna Barker and Mr. Hagan Walker, as they embark on an exciting new partnership with Sesame Workshop in April 2021, during National Autism Acceptance Month and wish them continued success in their entrepreneurial endeavors, as they help to improve the lives of families and children across Mississippi and beyond.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ms. Anna Barker and Mr. Hagan Walker, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.