For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Marty Fischhoff
248-305-3729
Detroit Public TV Receives Major Grant from Consumers Energy Foundation
$330,000 grant to support Great Lakes Now and its coverage of the world’s largest freshwater system
The Consumers Energy Foundation announced a $330,000 grant over three years to support Detroit Public TV’s Great Lakes Now initiative, which serves as a regional hub for news and information on the region’s freshwater resources.
“The Consumers Energy Foundation is dedicated to ensuring Michigan has world-class natural resources. That includes providing access to vital information about our state’s Great Lakes and waterways,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “We are excited to support Detroit Public TV and Great Lakes Now as Consumers Energy and others take steps to protect our planet.”
Established three years ago, the Great Lakes Now bureau consists of a growing team of award-winning journalists, who provide authoritative coverage of a wide range of subjects affecting life in the Great Lakes Basin, including water quality, public policy, environmental justice, economic development, resource conservation and tourism.
“We are delighted and grateful for the Consumers Energy Foundation’s continued commitment to Great Lakes Now,” said Rich Homberg, president and CEO of Detroit Public TV. “With this support, we can expand and enhance our reporting on the crucial role that the Great Lakes play in the lives and livelihood of the people of our region, helping to build a sense of shared stewardship and responsibility for our natural heritage.”
With a monthly magazine-style television program and daily online reports at GreatLakesNow.org, the bureau offers in-depth coverage of news and developments affecting the lakes and the communities that depend on them, while capturing the character and culture of the region.
In addition to DPTV’s own team of reporters and producers, Great Lakes Now has built a network of correspondents throughout the basin, as well as partnering with regional PBS stations that contribute coverage to the television program and to the Great Lakes Now website,
The monthly show, “Great Lakes Now,” launched in April 2019 and since then has expanded to a basin-wide, bi-national program carried on 15 stations serving 19 markets, in 5 states as well as Ontario.
About Consumers Energy Foundation
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Consumers Energy Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan – its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2018, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy and its employees and retirees contributed more than $18.5 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation
Detroit Public TV (DPTV) is Michigan’s only community-licensed public television station, operating entirely independent of any educational institution or governmental entity. With more than 2 million weekly viewers across its four channels, DPTV is the state’s largest and most watched public television station, as well as having the most diverse public television audience in America. In addition, another 750,000 visit its websites like DPTV.org, OneDetroitPBS.org and GreatLakesNow.org each week. DPTV is licensed to the Detroit Educational Television Foundation and governed by a volunteer board of trustees from the local business, civic and cultural communities. For more information, visit dptv.org
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