The Window
The Newman’s Own Foundation Provides
Nourishing Programming for WTTW Kids
As if we needed another reason to eat healthily, these days it is especially meaningful
to opt for Newman’s Own delectable products in our grocery carts. Whether it is their
top-notch dressings, pasta sauces or popcorn, by enjoying them you are now buying
a product that benefits one of America’s most important assets: our children.
WTTW is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a $100,000 challenge grant
from the Newman’s Own Foundation to help increase awareness for our WTTW Kids
programming, to which we devote half of our broadcast day – the 12 hours between 6
am and 6 pm – and weekend mornings. Each week, more than 600,000 children watch
Sesame Street, Curious George, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, WordWorld,
Arthur, and more.
This challenge grant is designed to inspire other corporations, foundations and individuals to step up to support “nutritious television.” Now more than ever, we need programs
that encourage literacy, impart positive moral messages and important life lessons,
and provide commercial-free content. We applaud The Newman’s Own Foundation
for this vote of confidence and support, as well as our other generous funders of children’s programming on WTTW, including Segal Family Foundation, Efroymson Family
Fund, Dr. Scholl Foundation, The Barker Welfare Foundation, Edmond & Alice Opler
Foundation, and Mr. Paul E. Golden & Dr. Karen Kreiling.
Here’s a recent article from Financial Times that tells you more about the very impressive Newman’s Own Foundation.
Cookie Monster
Mission To Planet 429 Scores High
with Underserved Students
Recently, WTTW National Productions was very pleased with the results of a two-week
study, conducted last summer, with a group of 2nd and 3rd graders as they played
our new online educational game Mission to Planet 429, designed to encourage an
interest in informational or academic reading, help them improve their computer
literacy and acquire basic 21st century skills which can often be difficult to acquire in
a traditional classroom. The study found that these children, 78% of whom were from
lower-income families, gained more than their peers playing games on Discovery Kids
in several key areas:
■■ Significant gains in learning content-specific vocabulary featured in the game, in-
cluding simple machines concepts and terms from the core curriculum, and
interest in informational or academic reading, basic computer
literacy and 21st century skills as well as their ratings of the “fun” of the game
experience.
■■ Increased
Mission to Planet 429 can now be found on this PBS Kids site, created by the WWCI
web team and funded in part by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of
Education. The concept is a creation of Roman Coppola (The Directors Bureau) and
was developed by WTTW and Nukotoys in partnership with The Academy for Urban
School Leadership (AUSL).
Gylnert and Zornat
WINTER
2011
The Window
WTTW Continues to Foster Fellows
Hundreds of Mikva Challenge high school students recently poured into Grainger
Studio for a Martin Luther King Day mayoral candidate forum. Working among
them was Bob Spoerl, a Medill graduate student and first recipient of WTTW’s John
Callaway Excellence in Online Journalism Fellowship. One of Bob’s first assignments
was to cover the January 17 forum with then Chicago mayoral candidates Rahm
Emanuel, Carol Moseley Braun, Gery Chico and Miguel del Valle for the Chicago
Tonight website. The colorful 60-minute candidate forum was broadcast on WTTW11
and streamed online with an additional 15 minutes of web-exclusive discussion. Bob
produced a behind-the-scenes diary and photo gallery to trace the night’s events.
Executive Producer Mary Field and SVP of Marketing & Interactive Anne Gleason are
delighted to have Bob’s expertise in research and fact-checking, and enthusiasm for
web production, at work in developing Chicago Tonight’s online platform.
Bob Spoerl
Lauren Timm
Geoffrey Baer Reaches for the Sky, Again
Viewers of Geoffrey Baer’s popular tour specials are always asking: Where are he –
and producer Dan Protess – going next? Now we know: The Loop!
WTTW’s upcoming 80-minute special, Chicago’s Loop, will take us on a fascinating
tour through the tall canyons of Chicago’s downtown – from our oldest buildings to
our most avant-garde structures.
Here is a sneak peek at some of what our valued viewers will see:
■■ The story of how Marshall Field made a fortune and revolutionized an industry.
His State Street store elevated Christmas windows to a high art, and its dazzling
Tiffany mosaic still soars high above the cosmetic counter.
■■ Geoffrey reveals the true identity of the West Side working-class girl who posed
for the statue of the Roman goddess high atop the Chicago Board of Trade
building on LaSalle.
■■ The ordinary Loop alley that is still officially a cow path.
■■ The dazzling grand stairway and domed hall in the Cultural Center – we’ll learn
how 19th century artisans carefully laid mosaic tiles at odd angles to create
its “starry sky” effect.
And much more!
Look for this program on our air in late November, 2011 – you will never experience
The Loop in the same way again! Special thanks to those funders who have helped us
bring Geoffrey’s unique tour programs to viewers over the years, including Harris Bank,
the Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, the Walter E. Heller Foundation in memory
of Alyce DeCosta, the Harriet K. Burnstein & Gand family, Ken Norgan, Judy & John
McCarter, Peter Kelliher, Jr. and Diane Kelliher; and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Geoffrey Baer
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The Window
A “Classic” Wake-Up Call
Here’s a heartwarming Huffington Post story that exemplifies the close and personal
bond WFMT forms with its most loyal listeners, and how the station values each and
every one of them.
Blogger Robert J. Elisberg, in a touching tribute to his 87-year-old mother Betty Lou,
recalled that one day when his parents had broken their alarm clock and needed to get
up early, his mother thought nothing of calling WFMT, “her adored favorite radio station, perhaps the premier classical station in the country, which she regularly called with
questions,” to ask if the morning host – as he would be “up anyway” – would give them
a wake-up call. And at 6:30 the next morning, Carl Grapentine generously complied.
Those of you who support WFMT are making moments like this possible. Thank you.
Carl Grapentine
WTTW and WFMT Welcome
Three New Trustees
Steven P. Blonder, Principal at Much, Shelist, Denenberg, Ament, Rubenstein, LLC, is an
accomplished legal and business counselor to numerous organizations, ranging from
Fortune 500 companies to small businesses to non-profits. He is a regular speaker and
commentator to the media in the areas of financial services, civil procedure, and legal
ethics, and has been published extensively in legal and industry journals. In addition,
Steven is active in the community – among many other responsibilities, he is a former
member of the Executive Committee of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Chicago – and in politics, recently chairing a Cook County judicial campaign and serving on the finance committee of an Illinois congressional candidate.
Tilden (“Denny”) Cummings, Jr. is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management
Advisor for Merrill Lynch. Like our on-air talent, he has appeared regularly on local
television to offer his unique financial expertise. His many philanthropic interests
include serving on grant-making committees for the Chicago Community Trust where
he also serves on the Professional Advisory Committee. He has also formed over 50
partnerships with many non-profit organizations as a way to increase their visibility
within the Chicagoland area. He is keenly interested in books, and has hosted nearly
600 author events over the last 11 years, including several at the Union League Club
for WTTW.
David G. Herro is a Partner, Portfolio Manager, and Chief Investment Officer of
International Equities at Harris Associates L.P. He has been managing international
portfolios since 1986, previously managing an international portfolio for The State
of Wisconsin Investment Board. He also served as a Portfolio Manager for international equity portfolios with The Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. In
addition to ours, David currently sits on the boards of The Field Museum, Children’s
Memorial Foundation, The Chicago Dancing Co. NFP, and The Chicago High School
for the Arts.
Steven P. Blonder
Denny Cummings, Jr.
Welcome, Steven, Denny, and David!
David G. Herro
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The Window
WFMT’s Introductions
is Honored by the CYSO
On February 5, 98.7WFMT was recognized with the 2011 Champion Award for Youth
and Music by the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras for its Saturday morning
series Introductions, which provides a showcase for up-and-coming pre-college
local musicians. General Manager Steve Robinson and Producer David Polk
attended the organization’s annual Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel, and proudly
accepted on the station’s behalf. Each of them spoke – Steve reminded the audience
that WFMT, being the caretaker of our unique radio signal, feels a responsibility to
use it to support the community as much as possible. David mentioned that at the
beginning of Introductions, other stations thought we would run out of students
to feature within six months…and now the show is booked six months in advance!
Thanks to the program’s generous funders – Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, The
Negaunee Foundation, Richard and Mary L. Gray, Jim and Kay Mabie, Susan and
Richard Kiphart, The Sage Foundation, The Farny L. Wurlitzer Foundation, The
Music Institute of Chicago, and the WFMT Fine Arts Circle. If you’d like to become
a member of this valued group, you can find some information here.
Steve Robinson and David Polk
Chicago Tonight –
A Solid Business Partner
As valued donors to WTTW, you know that now more than ever we need a place to
turn for unbiased, balanced coverage of issues that impact our lives. Whether it is
the fall of a governor, the rise of a mayoral candidate, what is happening in business,
employment, education, the arts, or stories that make us appreciate the history of
our city – no other program covers our city like Chicago Tonight. The program’s
ratings have increased 70 percent since last August, proving that for news on Chicago’s
important events our audience turns to WTTW.
So, we fast-forward to a program that was devised to help sustain this treasure: the
Business Partners and Business Leaders initiatives that make it possible for small to
medium-sized businesses to support Chicago Tonight at an affordable level. Our Trustee
team contacted friends and colleagues who would consider a gift to the program.
And they did a great job: since April of last year, we have added 22 new sponsors and
raised $730,000 in combination with other corporate gifts. Here are a few of our new
Business Leaders and Partners…thank you!
Nicor Gas
Hilton/Lisle and Naperville
Blackman Kallick
Nalco
Mayer Brown LLP
Kirkland Ellis LLP
Cole Taylor Bank
CDI-Corp.
Urban School Foundation
Sardee Industries
Shure Inc.
Carol Marin moderates the discussion between,
from left to right, eventual winner Rahm
Emanuel, Miguel del Valle, Carol Moseley
Braun, and Gery Chico.
Phil Ponce listens as students question the 2011
mayoral candidates.
And there are also some partners who wish to remain anonymous. We thank them,
too.
Businesses – large and small – can be recognized around Chicago Tonight, on our
website and in our monthly program guide. If you or your organization is interested
in supporting Chicago Tonight, let us know. We appreciate your contribution. Contact
Joanie Bayhack at 773-509-5431 or jbayhack@wttw.com.
Carol Marin takes questions for the candidates
from Mikva Challenge students.
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The Window
WFMT Kicks Off 60 Classic Years
On February 7, a small group of WFMT friends gathered for a performance in the
home of Dick and Susie Kiphart to kick off the celebration for our 60th anniversary. Dick
and Susie, a WFMT Radio Committee Member, welcomed guests for a performance
of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet with the Avalon String Quartet and clarinetist Wagner
Campos. Guests enjoyed a lovely program with WFMT’s Lisa Flynn, who introduced
the Quintet and a new composition from and conversation with Chicago composer
Elbio Barilari.
Be sure to join us on May 12 as we celebrate WFMT’s 60th birthday at our annual
Benefit with a star-studded stage show at the Harris Theater followed by an exclusive
dinner at the Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park. Just announced: Opera superstar
Susan Graham has agreed to serve as our Mistress of Ceremonies for the Harris Theatre
performance. And on December 13, WFMT’s actual anniversary, look for – and listen
to – The Day of Music, a special all-day broadcast with a host of surprise guests live
from Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center.
We are grateful to all the generous WFMT sponsors who have sustained us through 60
classic years and continue to help us bring fine arts programming to our loyal listeners.
We look forward to 60 more!
Avalon String Quartet
Health Secrets Wins Gracie Award
WTTW’s 4-part TV series and website Health Secrets: What Every Woman Should
Know and its producer Jamie Ceaser have won a prestigious Gracie Award from
the Alliance for Women in Media. The program was recognized in the category of
Outstanding Talk Show, Entertainment/Information. The Gracies recognize exemplary
programming created for women, by women, and about women in all facets of electronic media, as well as individuals who have made contributions to the industry. The
series was hosted by Paula Zahn and produced in association with Prentice Women’s
Hospital of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We are grateful to our generous funder,
the Alberto Culver Foundation. The awards will be presented on May 25 at a luncheon
at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Shelley Spencer, Paula Zahn, Jamie Ceaser, Alexandra Silets, and V.J. McAleer
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The Window
Good news for tax-free charitable giving!
IRA Charitable Rollover Returns
The recent Federal Legislation surrounding the Pension Protection Act brings a valuable charitable giving opportunity to make tax-free gifts from your IRA.
In review:
■■ You must be at least 70 1/2 years old.
■■ Gifts up to $100,000 per person per year may be given and will satisfy all or part
of your IRA minimum distribution requirement.
■■ The new expiration date for the Charitable Rollover is December 31, 2011.
■■ The transfer must be made directly from your IRA to WTTW11 / 98.7WFMT.
Our Tax I.D. number is 36-2246703.
■■ The distribution is excluded from your gross income for federal tax purposes –
a real advantage at tax time!
USE YOUR IRA
the Smart Way!
The IRA Charitable Rollover Act allows you
to make tax-free gis to WTTW and WFMT
from your IRA.
■ You must be at least 70 1/2 years old.
■ Gis up to $100,000 per person per year
may be given and will satisfy all or part of
your IRA minimum distribution requirement.
■ The new expiration date for the Charitable
Rollover is December 31, 2011.
For more information on making a gi to
WTTW/WFMT though your IRA, please
contact KATHYBUSEY at (773) 509-5553
or Kbusey@ww.com.
If, after consulting your tax advisor, you are interested in making a gift from your
IRA, contact your IRA custodian and request that a specific amount be transferred
directly to WTTW11 / 98.7WFMT with your acknowledgment information. For more
information on making your WTTW or WFMT gift though your IRA charitable rollover,
please contact Kathy Busey at (773) 509-5553 or Kbusey@wttw.com.
This is a great opportunity to support the programming that means so much to you
and make the tax laws work in your favor!
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