PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Over a month since federal funding was cut for public broadcasting stations nationwide, Peoria’s WTVP is receiving a generous amount of support from the community.
Funding for public broadcasting was cut across the country on July 17. The National Corporation for Public Broadcasting is winding down its operations, and no future funding is expected to reach local stations.
Stations like WTVP have asked for community donations to stay afloat, and CEO and President Jenn Gordon tells 25 News the station has received an anonymous $300,000 donation. She also says WTVP raised more than $170,000 in community donations on top of that large gift.
“We are just so overwhelmingly grateful to this community for stepping up and meeting us in this moment,” Gordon says. “We’re humble and so grateful.”
So far, Gordon says the station has not had to cut any programming. She says they are actually airing two new shows this month.
“If the time comes, we will do it, but we are taking a very optimistic approach,” Gordon says. “We have a long way to go.”
The station’s strategy right now is to build toward a five-year sustainability goal. Gordon says $1 million in funding for next year was cut, and she hopes to reach that goal in community donations.
“It’s not just a one-year issue that we’re dealing with; it’s moving forward and building our member base year after year,” Gordon says.
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