PBS SoCal is among four Inland Empire nonprofit organizations that will benefit from a transformative $4.5 million gift to Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF).
Upon her passing in 2023, lifelong philanthropist Jane Lykken Hoff set aside a commendable planned giving gift that will provide ongoing support in perpetuity to, in addition to PBS SoCal, the College of the Desert Foundation, Palm Springs Historical Society, and Palm Springs Public Library Foundation.
Established by IECF as The Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund, it is the largest-ever gift of its kind to the Foundation.
“Jane’s extraordinary, planned gift to PBS SoCal embodies her deep belief in community, education, arts and culture, and the environment,” says PBS SoCal Chief Development Officer Cindy Galindo. “It also amplifies her commitment to public media. We now have a wonderful opportunity to use this gift to continue to bring this great programming to our entire Southern California community, which includes a large portion of the Inland Empire.”
Galindo goes on to say that being included in Lykken Hoff’s unique gift allows the organization to also continue creating stories that specifically affect the Inland Empire.
On that front, PBS SoCal has remained vigilant. Some of its regional programming has touched on environmental issues and elections, as well as spotlighting change agents such as Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Child Care Resource Center, and Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, to note a handful.
“PBS SoCal strengthens the civic fabric of Southern California,” Galindo adds, “and we do provide the community with essential connection to the rest of the world, and that’s been directly seen most recently in one of our Artbound episodes that premiered, which is also available on our PBS SoCal app.”
The episode spotlights The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum.
“It’s a wonderful one-hour film,” Galindo notes. “It’s about the teacher’s commitment to Chicano art and the teacher shares his very vast collection with the public.”
When asked about what most locals may sometimes overlook about PBS SoCal, Galindo is quick to point out that Public Broadcasting has been active for more than 60 years in Southern California.
“We’ve been providing content that’s trusted, that’s inspiring, that’s impactful, and educates our communities,” she says. “The beauty of public media and public television is that we do this for free. So, there is no charge to watch our content and it’s just a delight to be able to share this with the community.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Galindo stresses the importance of PBS SoCal being the flagship PBS station in Southern California. A vast array of programming is featured across its seven channels and broadcast additionally throughout the community, including PBS SoCal, PBS SoCal Plus, and the variety of opportunities to feature stories on its website.
“One of the exciting things that’s going to be happening in 2025 is we will be premiering another film about the PST Art Initiative that’s taking place throughout Southern California,” Galindo explains. “It’s a homegrown story here in Southern California that will broadcast nationally.”
The inventive project, which is in partnership with museums and institutions across the region, explores the intersections of art and science, both past and present. Several diverse organizations hold exhibitions touching on myriad topics, such as artificial intelligence, ancient cosmologies, Indigenous sci-fi, and environmental justice.
“We’ll also continue Artbound,” Galindo says of the popular PBS show, which is currently celebrating its 15th season. “And in the New Year, we’ll premiere a season of Lost L.A., Earth Focus, and always continue with our educational programming, especially with PBS Kids.”
On that note, with the holidays approaching, look for standout children’s programming via shows like Nature Cat: A Nature Carol, Let’s Go Luna!: Luna’s Christmas Around the World, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!, and many others.
Learn more at pbssocal.org.
This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, November 2024.
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