For Release: 2007-10-22 00:00:00
The completion of KET's Endowment for Kentucky Productions -- a $2.25 million endowment which will provide KET with secure funding for the production of educational, biographical, cultural, historical and public affairs programs about Kentucky -- was announced at a ceremony o n October 18 at Lexington's Keeneland Race Course.Paula Kerger, president of PBS, joined Malcolm Wall, KET executive director, and Nick Nicholson, Keeneland president and CEO, at the event in announcing the first documentary funded by the endowment. Thoroughbred, from Academy Award-winning director Paul Wagner, will focus on the historic richness of Kentucky's land, the science of breeding, the innocence of a newborn foal, the high stakes of the sale, the thrill of racing and the serenity of a retired champion. The program is slated to premiere in March 2010, leading up to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
"No one tells Kentucky stories better than KET, and there's no better Kentucky story than the Thoroughbred," said Nicholson.
Fundraising for the endowment exceeded its original $2 million goal. The National Endowment for the Humanities recognized the need to preserve local stories with a $500,000 challenge grant, the only NEH grant awarded to the state of Kentucky and the only television grant in the nation in that funding cycle.
Kerger noted, "KET is one of America's great public broadcasters. It represents everything that makes public broadcasting so special -- a dedication to distinctive content, an emphasis on education and a commitment to community. I want to commend the funders and entire KET family on their vision to establish this endowment."
"We're grateful to our funding partners whose leadership, trust and generosity have made possible a lifelong learning gift for all Kentuckians," said Wall. "The endowment ensures KET's core mission to enhance the quality of life for Kentuckians through original programs by, for and about this place we call home."
The endowment is made possible by the generosity of its funders. They are: Alltech, American Electric Power Foundation, an anonymous donor, Mr. Hilary J. Boone Jr., Brown-Forman, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Campbell, the Cralle Foundation, Thomas and Clara Dupree, Oakley and Eva Farris, Owsley Brown Frazier, John and Donna Hall, Billy Harper, Laura Heddleson, Marshall and Margaret Heuser, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Humana Foundation, Keeneland Association, Marshall Charitable Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Warren Rosenthal. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.
Contact: Amanda Stroud
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Nicholson, Kerger, Wall
Wall
Wagner and Pearse Lyons of Alltech
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