A letter from Shae

On August 16, 1971, a small group of volunteers formally established the Friends of KET. Early contributions included acting as tour guides and efforts to help make the first, modest program guide self-supporting.

Over the next 50 years, the group would grow to include members representing 35 districts across the Commonwealth, supporting activities that made them an essential part of KET’s operations and services.  

Today, in addition to participating in KET events and fundraising efforts, the Friends serve as passionate advocates and knowledgeable ambassadors. They help promote KET programs and services while also providing indispensable feedback, as well as a direct connection to the many communities we serve.

As one of the most active and effective Friends groups in public media, The Friends of KET have received national recognition for their efforts and impact. 

How fortunate KET is to have such a wonderful network of generous and talented individuals – past and present – that have helped KET in so many ways over the last five decades. We salute and thank our outstanding ambassadors, The Friends of KET, for their endless and passionate efforts, and most of all … their friendship. 

Congratulations and thank you for 50 amazing years! 

Shae Hopkins, Executive Director and CEO

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In the beginning

In his memoir The KET Story: A Personal Account, KET’s founder O. Leonard Press noted that KET was not the brainchild of any one person, but rather the collective product of ordinary citizens, advocates and volunteers who led a statewide campaign to promote the idea of creating an educational network for Kentucky. 

“The first sentence in the account I wrote of the history of KET recognizes that KET had literally thousands of founders,” Press wrote. “These citizens came from all levels of influence, from the schoolhouse to the statehouse, without whose persuasive and persistent voices KET would still be an egg trying to hatch.”  

The Friends of KET is the organization, founded 50 years ago this month, that still today continues in that spirit. The organization, comprising regular citizens from every region of Kentucky, has been an invaluable contributor to the network’s fund drives, programming, and educational efforts in the Commonwealth.

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Friends of KET presidents

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