November 21st, 2011

September 13th, 2011

June 7th, 2010

Instead of interrupting your regular schedule to fundraise for KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, we’ve decided to stick to our normal program lineup and TRUST YOU to support your PBS station.

We often hear from our viewers, “Why don’t you air the shows I depend on all year long during the fundraising drive…I’d like to pledge my support for them?”  Well, now is your chance.  This week (Monday, June 7 through Friday, June 11) we’re reaching to achieve an aggressive June fundraising goal, but we’ve set aside the traditional pledge programs to bring you a lineup of PBS Newshour, Antiques RoadShow, American Experience, Nova, Frontline, and more.  We only ask that you support KLRU. We also have some great thank you gifts, plus every online supporter this week will receive a new KLRU water bottle.

In addition to your favorite PBS programming, members of the community will be joining us to show their support this week. We hope you’ll tune in to see your friends and neighbors live in our studio. It is truly a community effort running Austin’s only locally owned and operated TV station and we thank everyone for their help!

June 2nd, 2010

KLRU was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Austin Community Foundation to underwrite the cost of educational children’s programming used in Ready to Learn, its early childhood literacy initiative. KLRU’s nationally award-winning outreach services provide life-long learning tools to fulfill the educational needs of children, teachers and parents in Central Texas. In particular, Ready to Learn provides families with a variety of critical skills that promote school readiness in our region’s youngest learners. We are thrilled that the Austin Community Foundation has chosen to partner with us in providing this vital service.

May 14th, 2010

More than 800 attendees from PBS stations across the country will be in Austin from May 16-20 for the PBS Annual Meeting. This is a fantastic opportunity for many KLRU employees to meet colleagues, share new fundraising, production and outreach projects, and view upcoming PBS content and programming.

It’s also a wonderful chance for the spotlight to be on KLRU and Austin, and we look forward to highlighting some of our recent initiatives, like:

• Our partnership with Austin High School for the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.
• Receiving a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support production of In Context arts specials.
• The development of COVE, KLRU’s new online video platform where viewers can watch national PBS programs as well as local programs.

We are excited to be a part of the PBS Annual Meeting, to share KLRU’s vision and mission, and to learn from our fellow stations and colleagues. As always, our focus will be on how to provide central Texas with the best programming and services possible – to educate, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages!

Be sure to check back in with us next week if you’re interested in what’s happening with PBS – nationally and locally!

May 12th, 2010

Members of the KLRU Producers Circle attended a reception featuring actress, educator and activist Anna Deavere Smith, May 10, in Studio 6B. The reception immediately followed Smith’s taping of Texas Monthly Talks.

Smith’s work as an actress includes roles in theater, film and television. She is also well known as the author of critically acclaimed plays and books. It’s a career that has won wide respect, as well as a number of awards, including two Obies, two Tony nominations and a spot as a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.

To see her Texas Monthly Talks appearance, tune into KLRU on May 27th. To find out more information on KLRU’s Producer Circle and future Producer Circle events, contact Sharon Guess at sguess@klru.org.

May 10th, 2010

Erin Winfrey (left) and Douglas Drane (right) from Drane Associates present KLRU General Manager, Bill Stotesbery, with a $25,000 gift for KLRU’s CRISP initiative

Douglas Drane of the Douglas Drane Charitable Trust recently donated $25,000 to KLRU’s Community Research Information and Service Project (CRISP). This project is central to KLRU achieving its mission to provide quality content that engages people- leading to a more vibrant community. Upon completion, CRISP will enable KLRU to enhance our ability to communicate with viewers and donors through enhanced web experiences. Mr. Drane’s considerable contribution will significantly help foster innovation and reduce fundraising costs by increasing our capacity to engage in electronic communication with our members, allowing us to devote more resources to the programming and services so valued by the Central Texas community.

May 7th, 2010

Thank you again for your support during the KLRU March pledge drive. We were able to raise more money, with less on-air pledge time than ever before – thanks to the swift and generous action of viewers like you!

If you pledged in March and requested a premium from any one of our special pledge programs as a thank-you gift, you should receive it during the month of May. We are happy to provide the CDs, DVDs, and other resources from your favorite programs and we truly appreciate your patience while your orders are processed and shipped.

If you have any questions about your pledge or the status of your premium order, please don’t hesitate to call KLRU Viewer Services at 512-475-9017 or email membership@klru.org.

April 20th, 2010

KLRU is proud to present Ballet Austin performing Stephen Mill’s Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project at 8:00 PM on Thursday, April 29. This performance is part of KLRU’s InCONTEXT Arts Series, showcasing the depth and breadth of creativity across our community.

Local production of InCONTEXT is made possible by the generous support of The Kodosky Foundation, Hyde Park Bar and Grill, the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin, and, as always, the generous support of members of KLRU. This is a great example of the depth and breadth of support KLRU receives: a foundation, a locally owned business, a local government entity and members. A winning combination for Austin and Central Texas!

March 4th, 2010

The March Fundraiser is our most important on-air drive each year.  This year we’re trying to raise $340,000 by March 28th, and we’ve committed to ending the drive as soon as we reach our goal.  Putting on the drive involves every department at KLRU.  It’s a busy month, but everyone at the station pitches in to make everything run smoothly.

Up to 30% of the donations we receive during the drive will come via the KLRU’s website.  That’s much higher than the national average of 10%.  We’re excited this year, because the March Drive coincides with the launch of KLRU’s brand new website.  You don’t need to wait to support a program, and get a thank you gift.  While you’re here, watch episodes of your favorite PBS programs using our new video player.