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Grant will aid in continued development of Learning at Home initiative
Bethlehem, Pa. – December 1 – Lehigh Valley Public Media™ today announced it received a $10,000 grant from Truist Foundation to help in the advancement of over-the-air distance learning programming. This programming, which continues to serve the Greater Lehigh Valley, reaches 3.2 million households regardless of access to the internet.
“We are incredibly grateful to Truist Foundation for seeing the value in this work and for giving us additional opportunity to support this community. Unfortunately, we may be at home longer than we anticipated, and this grant will help us continue to provide learning at home with standards-based PBS resources,” said Catherine Reifsnyder, Director of Education.
Lehigh Valley Public Media’s Learning at Home curriculum offers over-the-air programming for Pennsylvania students, pre-K-12, developed in partnership with the seven stations of Pennsylvania PBS and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. PBS39 also worked with educators locally to create Lehigh Valley Learns – a distance learning educational initiative launched on March 30, 2020.
Recognizing that a portion of the community does not have access to the internet, the sole medium that can reach nearly 100% of students is broadcast television.
“On behalf of the Truist Foundation, we’re proud to support Lehigh Valley Public Media,” said Travis Rhodes, Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley regional president at Truist. “We know the programming they offer is contributing significantly to equitable education and increased literacy rates.”
Public media stations across the country have played an integral role in providing much-needed education resources to support remote learning for students and teachers and to provide families and school districts with enhanced support during these unprecedented times. The Truist Foundation’s grant makes it possible for educators and programmers to develop a curriculum that will provide learning opportunities for so many at home.
Tune-in on PBS39 and PBS39.com/Live every weekday. For more information, visit PBS.org/LearningAtHome.
About Lehigh Valley Public Media™
Lehigh Valley Public Media is home to PBS39,WLVR News, and various community initiatives. We are the regional leader in the publicly funded, non-profit media space and serve a vibrant and growing economic region through a dedication to local, unbiased journalism, primary and secondary education, workforce development and health and wellness. PBS39 broadcasts four additional channels of content: PBS39 Extra, WORLD, Create TV and France 24. Lehigh Valley Public Media is licensed in Allentown to the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. For more information, visit PBS39.org.
About Truist Foundation
The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on leadership development, economic mobility, thriving communities and educational equity. Learn more at Truist.com/Truist-Foundation.
Information provided to TVL by:
Victoria Scialfa
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Lehigh Valley Public Media
