WASHINGTON – February 26, 2024 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented the 2024 David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award to Dorothy Pacella, former Executive Director of Friends of Thirteen, Inc., and Friends of Thirteen Advocacy Board at The WNET Group in New York. Pacella retired in December 2023.
Since joining the Friends of THIRTEEN in 1989, Pacella has been instrumental in helping The WNET Group encourage youth involvement with public media, advocate for federal funding for the station, strengthen local partnerships, support local initiatives, host events and expand grassroots awareness of The WNET Group’s education resources and quality programming in the New York Metropolitan area.
As chair of the board of trustees of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting for over 20 years, Pacella led a vast network of public media volunteers and volunteer coordinators across the country, organizing them to take action on behalf of public television stations.
She also served on the board of trustees of America’s Public Television Stations from 2008-2014 bringing a powerful perspective of lay leadership to the national membership organization and the public broadcasting system.
“No one has played a more effective role, over a longer period of time, marshalling grassroots support for the work of public television than Dorothy Pacella,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations.
“As executive director of Friends of Thirteen for almost 35 years, and as the guiding light of National Friends of Public Broadcasting for more than two decades, Dorothy has been the heart and soul of grassroots advocacy for public broadcasting.”
“We all hate to lose such a powerful, passionate and personable champion of our mission, but we are deeply indebted to Dorothy for all that she has done, and done so well, for so long, to advance the mission of public broadcasting in America. We are honored to present the 2024 David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award to Dorothy Pacella, which she so richly deserves.”
“I am extremely honored to receive the David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award from APTS,” said Dorothy Pacella. “I have spent many years advocating for public media alongside dedicated Friends of Thirteen lay leaders, volunteers and WNET station staff. Growing awareness and building relationships in the community is key to the success of grassroots advocacy. Many times, a vote was turned around when constituents voiced their support for public media. Constituents always can make a difference. We must continue to support and grow the Protect My Public Media effort – one of the easiest ways to make our voices heard in Congress.”
Dorothy Pacella was Executive Director of the Friends of Thirteen Advocacy Board, formally Friends of Thirteen, Inc., from 1989 to 2023. The new board was created in 2020, after the organization merged with WNET.
As Executive Director, Pacella was responsible for expanding the reach and effectiveness of the Friends. Working with a volunteer board of directors, and volunteers across the tri-state, she designed and implemented projects to carry out WNET’s mission.
Pacella is a seasoned, enthusiastic and resourceful advocate for public broadcasting spanning 34 years. She annually organized the WNET staff and volunteers in Washington, D.C. to participate in America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) Public Media Summit and in congressional meetings during Capitol Hill Day. Throughout the year, she is involved in the Protect My Public Media campaign and serves on the APTS Leadership Council. This includes ensuring that Members of Congress in New York, New Jersey and Long Island are aware of the services provided by public media, and supportive of continued funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Pacella was an APTS Community Advocate Team leader from 1995 to 2001. In 2008 Dorothy was elected as a Lay Leader on the APTS Board of Directors and APTS Action Inc. and re-elected for a second term in 2011, serving on the Nominating Committee, Finance and Legislative Committees.
The Friends of Thirteen, Inc. Board of Directors launched the Dorothy Pacella Fund in 2010 as a catalyst for innovative community engagement in the metropolitan area, from partnerships and internships to new media initiative and local productions.
Pacella was a member of the Board of Trustees of National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB) from 1996 to 2020 heading many committees. Dorothy served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NFPB, 2003 – 2020.
Pacella has been actively involved in community service for over 50 years, having a long and varied career in volunteerism for several Brooklyn nonprofits in fields ranging from health care to the arts. She founded the Auxiliary of Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, in 1978 and served as President from 1978 to 1980 and 1992 to 1994. She served as Past President on the board of the New York Methodist Hospital Auxiliary in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and served as a Trustee on the Methodist Hospital Board of Trustees.
Dorothy is a long-life resident of Brooklyn, living in Bay Ridge; married 48 years to the late Dr. Vincent D. Pacella, mother of two grown children and four grandchildren.
The APTS board of trustees created the David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award in honor of its former president and CEO, David Brugger, the longest-serving leader of the organization.
The 2024 David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award was presented to Dorothy Pacella during the APTS Public Media Summit on Monday, February 26, 2024.
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org