Leon Levine Foundation grants $25,000 to WTVI for children’s programming

The Leon Levine Foundation has awarded WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS television station, a grant of $25,000 to support children’s programming. The grant acknowledges WTVI’s dedication to helping local citizens improve their lives, providing teachers with free educational resources and serving area children as the most positive and trusted use of television.

WTVI broadcasts 65 hours of PBS KIDS programming per week. PBS KIDS, the PBS brand for children’s programming, is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based entertainment with positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being. Children ages three to six develop reading skills by watching shows such as Curious George, Sesame Street, Arthur, Word Girl, Martha Speaks, Super Why!, Between the Lions and WordWorld.

The Leon Levine Foundation seeks to improve and advance the human condition in four major areas: Education, Healthcare, Jewish Religion and Human Services. As part of the mission, it exists to support individuals and institutions pursuing academic excellence and providing access for disadvantaged and deserving individuals.

“We understand the tremendous benefit to children through the PBS KIDS programming,” says Leon Levine, Founder and Chairman of The Leon Levine Foundation. “We are proud to partner with WTVI to ensure access to this programming regardless of family income.”

As an example of the programming impact, children who watch Super Why! score 46 percent higher on standardized tests than those that do not watch the show, according to research conducted by Linebarger, D.L., Wainwright, D.K. and McMenamin, K, in "Summative Evaluation of Super Why!" from Annenberg School for Communication, at the University of Pennsylvania, in 2009. In addition, other studies show pre-schoolers from low-income communities who participate in PBS KIDS' curriculum outscore their peers who do not participate on all tested measures of early literacy.

“It is so encouraging that the Leon Levine Foundation, a major community benefactor, recognizes the importance of starting children out right in their lives with appropriate programming delivered through a popular medium,” says Elsie Garner, CEO at WTVI. “This grant will help WTVI continue to provide the non-commercialized programming that our children need and deserve. Because public television is accessible in every home regardless of income, no government agency, no social service and no physical classroom has WTVI’s reach.”

WTVI also provides extensive community outreach for children. WTVI's Raising Readers Literacy program serves over 18,600 children located at 550 sites throughout WTVI's 13-county viewing area. Through the Raising Readers initiative, WTVI provides free workshops for educators and child care providers, children's books, curriculum materials and resources for parents. The workshops are designed to train adults to teach children the basic literacy skills that will help them enter school ready to learn. Sites include Head Start, after school programs, child development centers, home day cares and bi-lingual preschools.

The American public has named PBS and its member stations the most trusted institution among nationally-known organizations for seven consecutive years. Local research shows 85% of Mecklenburg residents think it is important for Charlotte to have its own public station.