Do you remember the news footage of moms fighting over the last Cabbage Patch Doll in the ’80s? Can you hum or sing the chorus to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song on command? Has the spiky yellow figure of Pikachu ever popped up in one of your dreams? I’m sure you’ve answered yes to at least one of these questions, and that speaks volumes about Al Kahn’s razor-sharp instinct for identifying what kids want, as well as his consistent ability to deliver it in a way that creates pop-culture crazes.

This licensing and marketing mogul’s impact on kids’ lives the world over – from how they play, to what they watch on TV – is only matched by his deep commitment to helping them deal with tragedies like 9/11 and the South-East Asian tsunami through philanthropic work. He’s respected throughout the kids entertainment business for his many property successes, his endless energy, his no-nonsense approach to negotiation, his devotion to his team and partners, his larger-than-life personality and his big-hearted generosity.

For these reasons and many more, we at KidScreen are thrilled to welcome Al into our Hall of Fame. Please join us in celebrating his outstanding achievements and broad-ranging contributions to the business of entertaining kids.

Congratulations Al!