I find it hard to even imagine. Ever since I was a kid, PBS has opened my mind and my heart to a world of ideas. Watching "Nature" with my dad every Sunday night, taking in opera and dance performances on PBS with my mom – these were some of the best times we shared amid hectic schedules and long commutes.
As a teenager, I remember feeling engaged and not talked down to by "The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour." I'd rush home from soccer practice and head straight to our living room, where Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer would bring me the world and help me sort through its complexities.
And now, how exciting it is to be employed by the organization I grew up with. I am proud to work for an organization that values community and civic engagement. One that challenges me to think critically – and think BIG.
I can't wait to watch "Wide Angle: Birth of a Surgeon" tonight at 9 for that reason. The program examines a major public health crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa: high maternal death rates. It is a topic you rarely hear about, yet it affects millions.
Programs like this simply don't exist on commercial television, which is so often driven by the bottom line, profit margins and the high entertainment value of mindless reality television.
Here at PBS, we are values-driven rather than money-driven. Our goal is to serve you, our viewers, with programs that build on and complement your values. Here's where you come into the picture: As a non-profit, we rely on your help to fulfill these goals.
Unlike commercial television stations that receive generous corporate dollars, we struggle every day to break even. We have no secret agenda; we simply want to continue doing what we do best.
To that end, I hope you will join me in participating in our text-to-give campaign. For the price of a latte, you can use your cell phone until the end of July to make a $5 donation. All it takes is a few simple steps. Your support, even $5, goes a long way.
We're on this journey together. This is a great place to start. Text "RMPBS" to 90999 to make your $5 donation today.
What does PBS mean to you? Join the discussion here on Panorama.
-Elizabeth Mayer, RMPBS
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