Dear Ms. Kerger and Mr. Abbot,

I urge you to stop using the popular PBS show Martha Speaks to market Chick-fil-A fast food to children. It is bad enough that children are now subjected to 15-second advertisements before and after their favorite PBS shows. But, according to PBS’s own marketing materials, the Martha Speaks/Chick-fil-A partnership also leverages the show’s popularity to “reach children” and “drive brand preference and restaurant traffic.” In 2011, an astounding 56 million Chick-fil-A Kids' Meals—which contain as much as 670 calories and 29 grams of fat—were distributed in Martha Speaks co-branded bags.

I am also disappointed that you nominated the campaign for a Cynopsis Imagination Award for advertising to children. Using a beloved character to lure kids to a fast food restaurant is nothing to celebrate.

I support public broadcasting and abhor the ongoing political attacks on funding PBS’s excellent programming. But public television has an obligation to put the wellbeing of children first. Campaigns like the Chick-fil-A/Martha Speaks partnership make it difficult to distinguish PBS from corporate networks that generate profits by selling kids on junk.

Children deserve better. Please end your promotion of Chick-fil-A.