SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Yvette Benavides, managing editor of San Antonio-based Texas Public Radio, says her station is deserving of increased financial support.
TPR’s recent decision to join forces with the San Antonio Report will bring “more in-depth local journalism to the people we serve,” Benavides said, in a pitch to potential donors.
This is the pitch she made:
“Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader. But building strong readers takes more than a classroom; it takes families, communities and programs working together.
“That’s why Texas Public Radio has launched a yearlong solutions journalism project focused on family literacy in San Antonio. Over the next year, our journalists are looking beyond the challenges and exploring what’s working: the people, programs and approaches that help children and families build stronger language and reading skills. We’re examining the evidence, sharing lessons from our community and highlighting solutions that can help inform the future of literacy in South Central Texas.
“Our summer fundraising campaign theme is “Stronger Together,” because that’s how meaningful change happens. With your support, we can continue reporting on the issues that matter most and exploring the solutions that can make a difference in our community. We're also able to strengthen our impact by joining forces with the San Antonio Report, bringing more in-depth local journalism to the people we serve.
“We’re working to raise $250,000, and thanks to a dollar-for-dollar match, your gift will have twice the impact. Your support helps us tell the stories of families, educators and community leaders who are working every day to help children discover the joy of reading and the possibility of a better future.
“Together, we can help create a stronger San Antonio, where every family has the opportunity to unlock the power of reading — one story, one family and one reader at a time.”
Rebecca Caven, vice president of development at Texas Public Radio, also made a pitch for financial support.
She said:
“There was a time when we were simply a treasured classical music station.
“For thousands of listeners, those broadcasts became part of the rhythm of daily life: morning coffee, evening drives, and quiet weekends. We introduced audiences to extraordinary music and artists from around the world, creating a place where curiosity and beauty could thrive.
“But our community's needs grew, and so did we.
“We added an NPR news station because San Antonio deserved trusted journalism. We expanded across South-Central Texas so that more communities could hear programming that informed and inspired. We built a multiplatform newsroom and website because people increasingly turned to their phones and computers for news. We launched an app and podcasts so that listeners could take TPR wherever life led them.
“When we opened the Irma & Emilio Nicolas Media Center, we created more than a broadcast home; we created a gathering place. Every year, thousands of people now come through our doors for conversations, performances, debates, and community events that bring neighbors together around the issues and ideas that matter most.
“And now, with the unification of Texas Public Radio and the San Antonio Report, we're taking our biggest step forward yet: bringing together two trusted nonprofit news organizations to create an even stronger source of independent journalism for our region.
“Through every chapter of our history, one thing has never changed: our commitment to meeting our community where it is—with the information, music, and connection it needs.
“Today, nearly all of the support that makes this work possible comes from people like you. That's why we're once again asking for your help during our Summer Fund Drive.
“Last July, our community came together after the loss of federal funding and demonstrated just how much TPR means to them. Your generosity helped launch our first-ever summer campaign and sent a powerful message: This community will invest in the journalism and cultural programming it depends on.
“That need hasn't gone away.
“Today, every dollar you give will help us reach our goal of raising $250,000, unlocking an additional $250,000 in challenge gifts. Together, we can generate $500,000 to strengthen the independent local journalism, music, and community service that you rely on every day. We've never been stronger because we've never had a community more committed to sustaining this work. As we continue to evolve to meet the moment, we hope you'll continue evolving with us.
“Please make your gift today and help prove, once again, that we remain Stronger Together.”
Supporters can make a gift by mail or phone. Here is the address: Texas Public Radio, 321 W. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205. Here is the phone number: 210-614-8977.
