WXXI Public Broadcasting and The Little Theatre on Thursday officially announced a $17 million "Go Public" campaign to allow both organizations to better serve the needs of the community. About 75 percent, or $13.2 million has already been raised.
Larry and Jane Glazer, the well-known local business people and philanthropists who died in a plane crash in September, had been leading the campaign through its silent phase for the past three years. They will keep the title of Campaign Chairs and the effort will be completed in their honor.
WXXI and Little Theater President Norm Silverstein says this campaign has a few different objectives, including establishing a fund to help the radio and TV stations produce programming that addresses community needs.
"We’re building a community program fund and also replacing things like lighting which needs to be much more efficient, we're going to go green as a facility in Rochester. Most of all we want to make sure public media is preserved to serve this community for years to come."
The campaign also will raise money to continue renovations at the Little Theater and help WXXI invest in new equipment and technology.
http://youtu.be/7L74ybSx1sM
To help finish the campaign, two area community leaders, Harry Trueheart, chairman emeritus of the law firm Nixon Peabody, and Doctor Cynthia Reddeck-LiDestri, who is an executive at LiDestri Foods, will lead the fundraising effort.
Reddeck-Lidestri says WXXI and its various programs are important for the Rochester community.
"Where else do you get thoughtful, unbiased discourse on politics, where else can you learn about your health on Second Opinion, where else can you learn about arts and culture and it supplies so many educational opportunities for children."
Truehart says WXXI and The Little Theatre work collaboratively with many other local arts and educational groups in this area.
"We reach more people I think really than any other organization in the community and have a strong spirit of cooperation within the various communities to help make this a better place."
You can get more information on the campaign at wxxi.org/gopublic.
