TEGNA Foundation and Stations Partner with Community Nonprofits to Address COVID-19 Relief, Social Justice and Other Pressing Needs
Tysons, VA – The TEGNA Foundation, the charitable foundation sponsored by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), in partnership with location stations, today announced it is awarding 170 Community Grants in 48 markets to address COVID-19 relief, social justice initiatives and other pressing community needs. A summary of the TEGNA Foundation’s 2020 Community Grant awards totaling $1.85 million can be found here.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, TEGNA stations have served the greater good of their communities by helping raise more than $65 million for COVID-19 relief efforts through virtual telethons and fundraisers, awareness campaigns, food drives and other initiatives. These efforts have been further strengthened through stations’ grantmaking. In 2020, 36 percent of TEGNA Foundation’s Community Grants directly supported COVID-19 relief efforts.
In response to the racial equality movement of 2020, TEGNA stations acted to address urgent community needs through coverage of local and national demonstrations and by facilitating honest conversations about race in America. Many stations created special programming on systemic racism and social inequality, such as KING’s (Seattle) Facing Race series. TEGNA stations also made 29 grants to nonprofits in their communities focusing on racial and social equality. In addition to local grantmaking, the TEGNA Foundation made a grant of $100,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
“During these extraordinary times, our stations’ fundraising and grantmaking efforts demonstrate our commitment to empowering local communities to build a better and more equitable future,” said Dave Lougee, president and CEO, TEGNA. “We are proud to support all of our local partners and thank them for the inspiring work they are doing to serve the greater good.”
TEGNA Foundation Community Grants are distributed within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal framework, with most grants in 2020 supporting the following three categories: Good Health and Well-Being (42 percent), Quality Education (24 percent), and Zero Hunger (19 percent).
Examples of impactful grants supporting causes that are significant in TEGNA stations’ communities include:
Addressing the urgent needs of students during the pandemic
KHOU, in Houston, Texas, is helping to serve the estimated 50,000 students in the Houston area who lack the resources required for distance learning. KHOU has partnered with Comp-U-Dopt to help provide computers for students in need. In addition to their grant, KHOU hosted a “Computers for Kids” telethon which raised an additional $75,000 to provide computers for students who otherwise would be without.
“With the support of the TEGNA Foundation, we are able to supply hundreds of computers to families who need them the most during this unprecedented time,” said Colin Dempsey, executive director, Houston & Galveston, Comp-U-Dopt. “The computer is more than just a tool for distance learning – it is a lifeline for families to connect to resources both big and small. 46 percent of families living at or below the federal poverty line still do not have access to a computer in their homes here in Houston. Getting these computers into the hands of students and families is only possible through dedicated community partners like KHOU and the TEGNA Foundation. Thank you for helping us to bridge the digital divide here in Houston.”
Supporting racial and social justice initiatives in our communities
11Alive (WXIA) in Atlanta, Georgia has concentrated much of its grantmaking in 2020 to address social justice and racial equality issues in the Atlanta area. One of the station’s partners, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR), is one of the foremost museums dedicated to civil rights, connecting Atlanta’s civil rights legacy to the global human rights movement. 11Alive’s grant to the NCCHR will support social justice training and events as part of the Center’s Campaign for Equal Dignity.
“The Center is very proud of our partnership with 11Alive,” said Jill Savitt, president and CEO, National Center for Civil and Human Rights. “By sponsoring our Campaign for Equal Dignity, 11Alive and the TEGNA Foundation allowed us to create and broadcast brave conversations about racial justice. In addition, 11Alive has created programming to make sure community voices are heard, and has also committed to ensuring its staff is diverse and treated equitably, partnering with us to host honest conversations with their team.”
Continuing to support longstanding partners
In addition to making grants that help fund COVID-19 relief efforts, our stations also continued working with local partners to fund their important community work. WUSA9 in Washington, DC partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to support new virtual programming options and in-person programs (COVID-19 appropriate capacity) for the 2020-2021 school year.
“At BGCGW, our mission is unwavering, to help boys and girls of all backgrounds, especially those who need us most,” said Gabrielle Webster, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. “With support from WUSA, the TEGNA Foundation and our other partners, BGCGW has increased programming hours from four hours to up to 12 hours a day. Since March, we have distributed over 17,0000 meals including on weekends, and created virtual programming via Clubhouse @ Your House to reach kids unable to receive Club resources in person.”
About TEGNA Foundation
The TEGNA Foundation is a corporate foundation sponsored by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Through its programs, TEGNA Foundation helps to improve lives in the communities served by TEGNA Inc., invests in the future of the media industry, encourages employee giving and contributes to a variety of charitable causes. For more information visit www.TEGNAFoundation.org.
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Anne Bentley
Vice President, Corporate Communications
703-873-6366
abentley@TEGNA.com
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Doug Kuckelman
Head of Investor Relations
703-873-6764
dkuckelman@TEGNA.com