Newman’s Own Foundation today announced $2.2 million in grants to PBS and nine public television and radio stations across the country. The Foundation recently crossed the milestone of giving away more than $300 million to charitable organizations. One of the ways Newman’s Own Foundation is celebrating this milestone is by creating a special funding initiative that expands its longstanding commitment to public awareness and dialogue through select challenge grants to public broadcasting.  These grants aim to help stations leverage the Foundation’s dollars to raise even more funds to deliver excellent programs and information to their audiences.

“Paul Newman believed in the power of civic engagement and conversation to make ours and the future’s a better world,” said Robert Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation.  “Today we underscore our commitment to public broadcasting, a relationship that Paul deeply valued and one we hope continues to inspire and expose people to new ideas, issues and dialogue.”

Over twenty-five years ago, Paul Newman launched Newman’s Own, which today is a leading premium food business.  Since the beginning, every penny Paul earned from the sale of Newman’s Own products has been donated to thousands of charities around the world by Paul and Newman’s Own Foundation. Empowerment and civil society is a priority grant-making area of Newman’s Own Foundation.  Today’s grants to public broadcasting are a reflection of that commitment.

“Our mission is to use the power of media to change lives, and help all Americans ‘be more’,” said Paula Kerger, president and CEO, PBS.  “Our member stations are just as diverse as our country, and each meets the unique needs of its local community. These grants will help us continue to serve those communities, foster rich civic dialogue, encourage participation in the arts, and provide access to quality education.”

In total, $2.2 million was awarded to PBS and nine stations.  Receiving these grants were:

• CPTV, Connecticut Public Television, is Connecticut’s only locally-owned media organization producing TV, print and Internet content for distribution to the state’s wide-ranging and diverse communities. CPTV serves the entire state of Connecticut, reaching an estimated 750,000 television viewers each week.
• KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET produces and distributes award-winning programs that explore the people, places and topics that are relevant to its region.
• KCTS serves Seattle, Central Washington and British Columbia.  The station reaches over 1.6 million people in Washington and 828,000 in Canada with programming that entertains and inspires.
• PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content, as well as education services. PBS and its member stations bring more local stories, independent journalism, arts and culture to Americans than any other media enterprise.
• TPT, Twin Cities Public Television, serves the people of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.  The station has long been a trusted resource of information and inspiration to the Twin Cities and for the state of Minnesota offering a diverse range of programming.
• WAMC Northeast Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states. These include New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Stations and translators are in twenty locations throughout the region sharing quality programming with listeners.
• WETA is the leading public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational, cultural, news and public affairs programs and services. WETA TV reaches 1.3 million Washington area viewers in an average week.
• WNET is the premier public media provider of the New York City metropolitan area and parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21,  America’s first and third most-watched public television stations. THIRTEEN and WLIW21 reach millions of people each week with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the affairs of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and inspires learning.
• WSHU Radio serves listeners in Fairfield, New Haven and New London Counties in Connecticut and Suffolk County in New York.  The station broadcasts exemplary NPR News, local reporting, classical music, and cultural programming to foster intelligent discourse and contribute to an informed electorate.
• WTTW provides unique, relevant and valued content and services that enrich, engage and educate diverse communities in Chicago and around the world.

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About Newman’s Own Foundation
Paul Newman was committed to helping make the world a better place. To carry on his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation donates to charity, all net royalties and profits after taxes it receives from the sale of Newman’s Own products. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $300 million to thousands of charities around the world.  To learn more, visit www.newmansownfoundation.org.