"My School Rocks!" wins PBS Development Inspiration Award

On May 18, 2011, WTVI accepted a 2010 PBS Development Inspiration Award for the first year of the "My School Rocks!" competition. Andrew Jackson, Independence, Lake Norman, North Mecklenburg, Rock Hill and West Charlotte high schools competed in the first annual WTVI and MSR Magazine competition for the right to claim their choir as the "Most Rocking School in the Carolinas." Congratulations to WTVI producer Jere Thomas for heading this successful project that recognized Lake Norman as the winning school choral program with a $5000 prize and raised $18,000 for WTVI. Inspiration Award winners were recognized at the PBS Annual Meeting in Orlando.
View YouTube clips from the 2011 competition.

National Memorial Day Concert airs live on Sunday, May 29, 2011

The nation's premier event is broadcast live on the eve of Memorial Day from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C The television event features a mix of dramatic readings, documentary footage and live musical performances, along with an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists. Airs Sunday, May 29, 2011, at 8 p.m.

The multi award-winning event will be co-hosted for the sixth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI:NEW YORK) and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna J(CRIMINAL MINDS), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran's causes and supporting our troops in active service.

Joining Sinise and Mantegna for the 22nd annual broadcast will be: distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); American Idol winner Kris Allen; Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest; King of the Blues B.B. King; classical superstar Hayley Westenra; and America's beloved tenor Daniel Rodriguez, the New York city policeman who united the country after the September 11 terrorist attacks. They will perform with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly (additional talent to be announced).

Freedom Riders stop in Charlotte

Forty College Students took a 2011 Student Ride, a journey retracing the historic civil rights bus rides that changed America. Accompanied by original Freedom Riders, the students participated in the bus ride from May 6-16, 2011 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the original rides.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for college students committed to learning from history and applying these lessons today, the ride was also a catalyst for a national conversation about the role of civic engagement today.

Kicking off in Washington, DC, the ride rolled through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, stopping along the way at historically significant locations, namely Charlotte, NC.

On May 9, 2011, WTVI, Levine Museum of the New South, The National Humanities Center, First United Presbyterian Church, Johnson C. Smith University, and UNC-Charlotte offered a sneak preview of the film "The Freedom Riders." The film airs on WTVI on May 18, 2011, at 9 p.m.

WTVI adds executive producer Rick Fitts to develop new programs

CHARLOTTE, NC (May 4, 2011) – WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS television station, has added local producer/director/editor, Rick Fitts, as executive producer. Fitts is a 14-time Telly Award winner and owner of Fitts Production Associates.

A longtime collaborator with North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT), Fitts began working with NCDT in 1988 as producer, multi-media director and scenic designer for John-Pierre Bonnefoux’s “Seeing Through.” In 2010, Fitts and NCDT’s Sasha Janes won a Telly Award for the documentary “Glass Houses” that shows the behind-the-scenes work on creating a new ballet. Fitts is also a former partner and vice president of production services at Tribble Creative Group.

“I look forward to developing new programs for broadcast that meet WTVI viewers’ expectations of quality content they can trust,” says Fitts. “We have some creative projects in the works that the community will be excited to see.”

Corporate production credits for Fitts Production Associates include special widescreen programmed event entertainment, film projects and corporate award shows in the United States, Australia, China, Germany, France and South Korea.

Fitts also works with a wide range of non-profits and has a 15-year history producing media for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte as well as Johnson C. Smith University, Leadership Charlotte, The Governors’ NC Conference for Women, Girl Scouts of America and Pride Magazine. Fitts is an active volunteer in the community, and he is working with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte's Prayer Breakfast committee, producing the live event on May 5, 2011, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Crown Ballroom.

“Rick brings more innovation and experience to our WTVI team, and his community connections will help build new relationships and continue relationships with long-time collaborative partners like the Arts & Sciences Council, Foundation for the Carolinas, the League of Women Voters and the United Way,” says Elsie Garner, CEO at WTVI.

This Week At WTVI

Ed Driggs Elected To National Board

WTVI Board Member Ed Driggs was elected to the national board for the Association for Public Television Stations (APTS).

APTS is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1980 to support the continued growth and development of a strong and financially sound noncommercial television service for the American public. APTS provides advocacy for public television interests at the national level, as well as consistent leadership and information in marshaling support for its members: the nation's public television stations. APTS' affiliated organization, APTS Action, Inc., provides legislative advocacy and seeks grassroots and congressional support.

Driggs, a retired stock analyst and banker, has served on the WTVI Board since 2006, serving as Chairman of the Board for two years during this time. In his new role with APTS Driggs will be responsible for representing the viewpoint of local stations to the national organization and vice versa.

"The Association for Public Television Stations is one of the nation's most prestigious national boards," said WTVI President & CEO Elsie Garner. "We are delighted that Ed was elected and we know he will do a good job."

Maya and Miguel Selected For National Ad Campaign

Maya

PBS' dynamic twin duo Maya and Miguel will encourage kids to "Take the Maya and Miguel Challenge" as a way to get more physically active and eat healthy during an upcoming PSA campaign. Maya and Miguel were selected by the Ad Council, on behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services, to be a part of a national PSA campaign. The public service campaign was highlighted in last week's announcement about First Lady Michelle Obama's brand new Let's Move initiatiave, which is designed to address childhood obesity. The new PSAs will air on WTVI beginning in March.

Maya and Miguel airs daily at 3 p.m. on WTVI.

Writer’s Contest Targets Kids in Grades K-3

Contest designed to enhance children’s reading skills

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WTVI is hosting the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, a national competition designed to promote the advancement of children's reading skills through hands-on, active learning.

The effort encourages children in grades K-3 in Charlotte and communities across the country, to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original stories and illustrations. Applications and details are available by logging on to http://wtvi.org/readingcontest.cfm.

For more information, contact Beverly Dorn-Steele, WTVI's Director of Community Engagement at bds@wtvi.org.

Dance to win $1000 and support public television

WTVI will host our first 10-hour dance marathon Saturday, March 6, 2010, in our studio. We will broadcast the dancers live from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can participate! So, come, burn up the floor, and learn some new steps, too.

Some of Charlotte’s finest dance studios and schools are already signed up, but you don’t have to be with an organized dance group. All happy feet are welcome. Just get a partner and sign up. Then, start signing up your sponsors - relatives, friends, and businesses. A sponsor’s pledge is the amount pledged per hour for the total length of time you dance.

Registration is free. More information, rules, and registration.

It’s all to raise money for your community television station - WTVI. Plus, there’s a $1000 prize for the couple that brings in the most pledge money. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded. Enjoy free food and beverages throughout the Dance-a-thon.

WTVI and Bank of America provide financial education to women in need

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) initiated a national financial education campaign in 2001 by launching Money Smart, a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream build financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use banking services effectively. Far exceeded its original commitment to reach one million consumers, the FDIC is working diligently to form alliances with other major entities, including financial institutions, national non-profit organizations, community- and consumer-based groups, and federal, state and local agencies to promote financial education.

WTVI and Bank of America are two such organizations making classes possible in our region. The first ten-week class was at Charlotte's Salvation Army Center of Hope.

"WTVI is excited to play a part in helping people learn how to save money, buy homes, and meet other financial goals," says Beverly Dorn-Steele, WTVI's Director of Community Engagement.