Supporting the Future

In the late '80s, my husband developed lung cancer. He became debilitated by the treatments, and I wrapped a cocoon around him, keeping him away from large crowds. TV12 was his way of getting culture. Once, we were invited to an evening at WHYY with Louis Rukeyser, his favorite. My husband, who never handled the finances, asked me 'Why are we here?' I took him over to a WHYY executive and said: 'Tell him why he's here.' He told him: 'Because you are one of our generous supporters.' I'll never forget, my husband turned to me and said: 'Money well spent.' -- Evie Berger, Capital Campaign Supporter and longtime member of the WHYY Fellows, Elkins Park, PA

G. Fred DiBona, President and CEO of Independence Blue Cross, which joined other corporations, including CoreStates Bank and Elf Atochem North America, Inc., in generously supporting the Campaign for Independence.

Mrs. Dorrance Hamilton and three of her grandchildren, Jessica (standing), Crawford and Charlotte. The Hamilton Family Foundation awarded WHYY a $1 million challenge grant for the Campaign for Independence.

Tammy Taylor (second from left) and Tara Swartz are among the WHYY staff members who donated $82,600 to The Campaign for Independence, indicating their support for the future. With them on the Members' Plaza are Tammy's daughter Shareeta, and son, Tyrese.

1995 |||||||||||||| WHYY's $15 million capital campaign is named The Campaign for Independence, and begins holding private cultivation events to acquaint supporters with the educational possibilities of the new technology. The first $1 million commitment is received from the Longwood Foundation in Wilmington.	1996 ||||||||||||| A major cultivation event is held at Appleford with special guest Cokie Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M.V. Hamilton pledge $1 million to be matched by four other people making leadership gifts of $250,000. Wray M. Hoffman's estate notifies WHYY of his $1.4 million bequest.	1997 ||||||||||||| The Pew Charitable Trusts awards $1 million as a match to challenge members to fund WHYY's new digital transmitter.
1998 |||||||||||||| WHYY purchases its Independence Mall site from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. The Campaign is publicly announced, with $10 million raised. The Kresge Foundation pledges $1 million as a challenge to raise the balance needed, and the Independence Foundation awards WHYY a challenge grant of $500,000 for building community Civic Space.	1999 |||||||||||||| The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commits $1.5 million for WHYY's conversion to digital technology. 4,245 individual members contribute to the campaign. WHYY staff members give $82,600. The final match is received toward the Hamilton challenge. The Campaign surpasses its goal, raising $15,785,000. In November, WHYY's new Technology Center opens and the Members' Plaza is unveiled.	. . . . . . . .