WASHINGTON – March 1, 2022 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented the 2022 David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award to Carol Kellermann, representing The WNET Group in New York, New York.
Since joining the APTS Board in 2016, Kellermann has played a critical role in securing enhanced federal funding for public media. With her help and guidance, funding for public media has increased by $30 million over the last two years – the first increases after a decade of level funding – and public media stations received $250 million in COVID-related emergency assistance through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.
“Carol Kellermann is an extraordinarily effective advocate for public broadcasting,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations. “Her decades of leadership in philanthropic and nonprofit enterprises and government service made Carol a particularly distinctive addition to our board, and her work on behalf of local public television stations will benefit our system for many years to come.
“Carol has set a new standard for lay leadership in public media, and her commitment and talent perfectly capture the spirit of David Brugger, the long-time president of APTS,” Butler said. “We are immensely grateful for her generous investment of time, energy and towering reputation on our behalf, and we are honored to present the 2022 David J. Brugger Award to Carol Kellermann.”
"It has been an honor to serve on the Board of America's Public Televisions Stations for the past six years,” said Carol Kellermann. “Local stations are vitally important to the civic and educational life of their communities and I have been grateful for the opportunity to help them achieve recognition and financial support. My dad was one of the early executives at NET – the precursor to PBS – so it has been especially meaningful to me to follow in his footsteps as an advocate for public broadcasting and to work with the dynamic leadership of Pat Butler and the members of the APTS Board.”
Carol Kellermann has over 35 years of experience in leadership positions in nonprofit, philanthropic and government settings.
She served as President of the Citizens Budget Commission for 11 years, as Interim Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers and PENCIL, Inc., and as a consultant to City University of New York (CUNY), where she initiated a pilot program to improve graduation rates and job outcomes at CUNY’s six community colleges.
As Executive Director and CEO of the September 11 Fund, Kellermann oversaw the $500+ million charitable fund, which provided grants and assistance for the short and long term needs of victims of the September 11th attacks. Prior to that, she was Executive Director of Learning Leaders, the oldest and largest volunteer program in the New York City public schools.
Kellermann was previously Chief of Staff to then Congressman Charles E. Schumer and held various executive positions in New York City government, including Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Finance.
Kellermann holds degrees from Harvard Law School and Harvard College.
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 2022 David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award was presented to Ms. Kellermann during the APTS Public Media Summit on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
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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