By now, many of you will have heard that after more than half a century, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is closing. While the closure of CPB is a profound loss for PBS Western Reserve and the public media industry at large, it does not mean PBS Western Reserve will shut down.
The CPB was an independent nonprofit organization established under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 to support and strengthen public media in the United States, primarily through the distribution of federal funds appropriated by Congress. CPB’s dedication to bringing public radio and TV into the homes of all Americans, from the inner city to the most remote locations, united communities and helped fuel the creation of some of our nation’s most beloved programs like MR. ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD and the documentaries of Ken Burns.
PBS Western Reserve is committed to building on CPB’s legacy and maintaining the trusted programming, public service and community empowerment at the core of our mission, but we need your help. The best way to support PBS Western Reserve is to become a member, increase your sustaining gift, or invite a friend or family member to join you in investing in our mission of inspiring lifelong learning and connection across our region through free, accessible media and educational services.
We will need continued support from our community to sustain the acquisition of trusted national programming like PBS News Hour, the production of local storytelling like City Centric and The World According to Polka, and the development of standards-aligned educational outreach. Already, our viewers across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania have stepped up tremendously to help us fill funding gaps left by the loss of federal funding, and we are now 77% of the way to our goal. Together, we can ensure generations to come will be able to depend on PBS Western Reserve.
Help us reach our goal today at PBSWesternReserve.org.
With gratitude,
Natalie Pillsbury
President & CEO, PBS Western Reserve
