PBS Recognizes Kevin T. Keane With Its 2008 Public Television Leadership Award

WNED announced that Board Chair Emeritus Kevin T. Keane was the recipient of a PBS Development Award this year for “Public Television Leadership.”  The award recognizes individuals, organizations and corporations who, through their sustained commitment, have secured major funding for public television and whose efforts have resulted in lasting benefits to their station and the PBS system at large. The national PBS Development Advisory Committee chose Keane based on his pivotal involvement in WNED’s Capital Campaign for Digital Broadcasting and other station activities.

Keane served as chair of the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association’s Board of Trustees for six years to ensure continuity during WNED’s Capital Campaign and the station’s transition to digital.  Along with strong leadership, he was an articulate and passionate ambassador and advocate for WNED.

Under Keane’s tenure as Board Chair, WNED closed the sale of Channel 23 to Lin Broadcasting. His wisdom led the organization to use the proceeds from the sale to create The WNED Foundation to provide a new, long-term dedicated stream of funding to help finance and sustain initiatives that sprang from WNED’s digital conversion.

Also during his tenure, WNED launched the ThinkBright family of lifelong learning services, including a multicast digital channel, an online service, and community outreach effort in collaboration with scores of community partners.  WNED became a respected producer of national PBS programming, including THE MARINES, NIAGARA FALLS, and most recently, THE ADIRONDACKS, for which Keane was a key fundraiser.

“WNED would not be the strong, community-centered, financially-stable, and respected organization it is today without Kevin Keane, said WNED President and CEO Donald K. Boswell.  “He would tell you that it was a team effort, but great teams are successful only with great leadership.  Kevin is calm in the face of adversity, hopeful in the most challenging of times, and humble in triumph.”

The award was presented to Keane and four other recipients at the PBS Development Awards Banquet of the PBS Development Conference on the evening of Thursday, October 2, in San Antonio, TX.  Keane wasn’t available to attend, so his son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Leslie Keane, accepted in his absence.

“The Public Television Leadership Awards are profoundly important because they honor the individuals and organizations that ensure PBS member stations thrive year-round. We appreciate the financial support they provide public television, but more important, we value the time and energy they invest in our work. It is because of these loyal supporters that PBS is able to fulfill its obligation to the American people,” said Paula A. Kerger, PBS president and chief executive officer.

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