The black-tie event recognized half a century of impact and commitment.
Bethlehem, Pa. — November 7, 2017 — PBS39 hosted its 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration and annual Good Neighbor Awards on Saturday evening, November 4, at The ArtsQuest Center. Leadership, board members, and staff of PBS39 were joined by friends in the community, to honor half a century of impact while looking forward to the next 50 years of community engagement. Bill Spence, President and Chief Executive Officer of PPL Corporation along with his wife, Denise, served as Gala Co-Chairs. PPL Corporation was the Premier sponsor for the event. The Good Neighbor Awards were sponsored by Air Products.
“The storied history of this great community asset, which I’ve been profoundly honored to serve, has reached a threshold, manifested in this very special evening,” said Tim Fallon, PBS39 CEO. “This evening is a recognition of our past and a celebration of the bright future ahead, as we look beyond the horizon to new realities.”
Celebrating 50 years of television, PBS39 has provided diverse television programming, focused on learning, the arts, science, and the people of the Greater Lehigh Valley, in addition to community and educational support and outreach.
Grammy® nominee and 2016 Best All Around Entertainer award winner, Tony Orlando, was the evening’s event emcee. Brooklyn-based artist, Michael Arthur, created a beautifully unique piece of art, drawn in real-time during the Gala, which was later auctioned for $5,000. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard University professor and host of the PBS program, Finding your Roots, also addressed the crowd.
“PBS39’s new vision is a community that is inspired, engaged and vibrant,” said Bill Spence. “It’s a vision that I know resonates not only with PPL, but with so many of you in this room.”
Laurie Hackett, Community Relations at Air Products, recognized the following 2017 Good Neighbor Awardees:
· Arts & Education: Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest and PBS39 50th Anniversary Gala Host Committee member
· Youth & Family: Dr. Karen Walton, Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor of Mathematics at DeSales University, and longtime host of PBS39’s Scholastic Scrimmage
· Founders Award: Honorable Maxwell Davison, former Pennsylvania Trial Court Judge and PBS39 Board Member
Tim Fallon awarded a special Good Neighbor Award for Organizational Service to PBS39 team member, Jessica Lee, who has been with the organization for 37 years.
Attendees to the black-tie event included Tim and Lesley Fallon, Caroll and Ellen Neubauer, Brian and Tina Nester, Mike and Shelley Pessina, Lee and Dolly Butz, Matt and Ronnie Sorrentino, Laurie Hackett, Dave and Emilie Lobach, Chuck and Kate Stinner, Anne and Brad Baum, Jamie Musselman, Kassie Hilgert and Susan Lawless, Maria Esposito and John Conklin, Dale and Bev Kochard, and Buddy and Laurie Lesavoy.
Click here to see photos from the PBS39 50th Anniversary Gala.
For dinner, guests enjoyed an artist rendition, salad with cucumbers, roasted red peppers, candied walnuts, grilled yellow squash, goat cheese and tarragon balsamic dressing, seared angus tenderloin & crab cakes with lemon buerre blanc, roasted vegetables, and yukon gold mashed potatoes. The meal was completed with the Artsquest’s Chef’s assortment of mini desserts.
Gala sponsors included Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Anixter, Inc, ArtsQuest, B. Braun Medical Inc., BB&T, CapitalBlue Cross, City Center Allentown, Dunne Manning, Edwards Business Systems, ESSA Bank & Trust, Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, LLC., Jim Edwards, Jamie Musselman and Edwards Business Systems, Lafayette College, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Lutron Electronics, Inc., Morning Call, and Univest Corporation.
Information Provided By:
DaWayne Cleckley
VP, Marketing
PBS39
