Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Founder and Chairman of Beaches Resorts and Sandals Resorts was honored by the Sesame Workshop during the organization’s annual gala.

The event was hosted by Katie Couric and Elmo with entertainment provided by Trombone Shorty. The organization bills the gala as: “Each year, Friends, Muppets, and honored guests gather for a celebration of laughter and learning that directly benefits our global non-profit work.”

This year, the focus of the gala was to highlighting Sesame Street in Communities, the organization’s new initiative reaching children and families across the country—with the gala specifically celebrating “the incredible resilience of children” and to promote “help, healing and hope.”

The organization’s webpage lists its purpose as:

“Sesame Street in Communities builds on our almost 50-year commitment to caring for the developmental, physical, and emotional needs of children. Thoroughly researched and tested with families, these resources are proven to make a measurable difference for kids, and make your job as a parent a little bit easier."

"Through community partnerships, engagement efforts, and a constantly growing bank of materials, Sesame Street in Communities will continue to expand. As your children’s needs grow and change, we’ll have the right resources to help them grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Because we’re all in this together.”

Stewart is one of Jamaica’s most revered businessmen. The self-made Kingston native famously began working as a salesman at the age of 17, eventually saving up enough money to purchase his own business in 1968. In 1981, Stewart got into the hospitality industry with the purchase of two hotels which he eventually sold before purchasing Sandals Resorts and expanding it into the Beaches brand which was developed for families.

Beaches Resorts has partnered with Sesame Workshop since 2004.

Stewart is also a notable humanitarian and has been given his country’s highest national honors: The Order of Jamaica, and Commander of the Order of Distinction. In 2014, he was given the Travvy by TravelPulse for Most Innovative All-Inclusive Resort Executive.

Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, accepted the award on behalf of his father.

“My kids were lucky enough to be able to experience Beaches a few years after Beaches began working with Sesame Street," said Mark Murphy, President and CEO of travAlliancemedia. "They still talk about it today as young adults.

"It’s great to see an industry icon like Butch Stewart—and the team at Sandals and Beaches Resorts—be recognized for the impact they have made for children and families.”

Ann Thomas, President and CEO of The Children’s Place was awarded the Joan Ganz Cooney Award. The Children’s Place is a Kansas City organization that exists to help nurture and promote the healthy development of children who have been victims of abuse. Thomas, who previously served as Vice President or Program Administration, has been a powerful advocate for children throughout her career.

The organization also announced The Joan Ganz Cooney Fund for Vulnerable Children. Ganz Cooney is one of the founders of Sesame Workshop and a former television producer who helped oversee the creation of Sesame Street. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995.

The Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids “grow smarter, stronger and kinder,” and it has been doing so since 1968. This year marks the company’s 50th anniversary.