MUNCIE, Ind.--Children all over East Central Indiana and Western Ohio can continue to enjoy the company of Big Bird, Elmo and Oscar the Grouch on WIPB-TV, thanks to the efforts of many dedicated employees at the Muncie and Anderson Target stores.

Target employees recently presented a check for more than $1,600 to the public television station to support the popular Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) children’s series, "Sesame Street". The presentation was made in conjunction with PBS’s March Pledge Drive.

"We often get support from businesses, but it's remarkable that Target employees take time to raise their own money to support "Sesame Street," said WIPB General Manager Alice Cheney.

Each Wednesday over the past year Target employees who wore jeans to work made a contribution of either $1 or $2 for the "Sesame Street" fund. Nearly 250 Target employees in Anderson and Muncie raised the money during 2000, according to Target Store Team Leader Roger Symms.

“The employees of the Muncie and Anderson Target stores believe supporting quality children’s programming is a way of giving back to the community in which we live,” said Symms.

Target employees and management have carried on this tradition since 1992. The money--which totals nearly $22,000 over the last 9 years--is independent of any corporate contributions made by Target.

A PBS affiliate, WIPB-TV Muncie is licensed to Ball State University and serves more than 390,000 households in East Central Indiana and Western Ohio. For more information visit the Web sites: www.pbs.org or www.bsu.edu/wipb.