Bernard Rapoport Receives Public Television Leadership Award 

WACO, TEXAS October 21, 2005 – Philanthropist Bernard Rapoport received a Public Television Development Leadership Award at the recent annual PBS Development Conference October 8th in San Diego. The award recognizes volunteers whose work on behalf of public television in the areas of advocacy, fundraising, and institutional advancement have made a substantial impact on the their stations, or the Public Broadcasting industry as a whole. The award was presented at the closing banquet of the PBS Development Conference on the evening at October 8, in San Diego, California. Pictured left to right: Nan Holmes, KWBU Vice-President Major Giving and Special Projects, Bernard Rapoport, and Polly Anderson, KWBU President & CEO.

A constant advocate for public broadcasting and for the important role of public service media in maintaining a free democracy, Rapoport has a long history of support for public broadcasting, both as a national underwriter and as a KWBU member and underwriter. His generosity helped KWBU-TV convert to digital broadcasting, and more recently, issued a challenge grant to help KWBU-TV & FM reach the 2005 fiscal year end goal of $75,000. Rapoport, a 1939 graduate of the University of Texas, is the founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of American Income Life Insurance Company in Waco. A former University of Texas System regent and major contributor to the university, Rapoport is widely known for his philanthropy and dedication to social justice, education and other causes. He and his wife established the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation in 1989 to support educational, social, cultural and public service entities throughout Texas and around the world. The foundation supports programs that have the broadest possible impact in meeting important human needs and aspirations, with an emphasis on the needs of the most marginalized members of society.

Affiliated with National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), KWBU serves more than 80,000 people each week through its public radio, television and educational outreach programs. It is a community licensed service of Brazos Valley Public Broadcasting Foundation, Baylor University and its member listeners/viewers and underwriters, and is one of only 76 joint licensees (public television and radio) in the nation.