CHICAGO, June 11, 2009 – Living Earth Television (LETV) has received a Chairman Grant from world-renowned media policy organization, the Benton Foundation. The funds will be used to address costs associated with bringing international, locally filmed documentaries to U.S. audiences.
LETV’s first initiative, set to be released in the U.S. later this year, captures everyday moments in contemporary China. Enter a Buddhist temple where nuns are raising seven little girls that were abandoned as infants. Follow rural villagers as they work at a construction site hoping to find their fortunes. Watch young students at a boarding pre-school handle life without their mother, and in another piece examine an intimate portrait of a young couple deciding if they want to get married.
Charles Benton, president of the Benton Foundation, said what motivated the issuing of the grant was what LETV is doing in China – identifying locally produced documentaries that are not seeing the light of day in the international market. “It could give important insights into Chinese life, let alone finding commonality between local production there and here,” he said, calling LETV’s work a “real contribution.” He added that the effort makes concrete LETV Founder Martha Foster’s dream of linking peoples through the LETV project.
Benton also said that Foster is the right person for this cause, and that he hopes the grant will help LETV to attract further interest from funders. If the small but very significant grant could not only “help with current financial needs, but also provide some leverage for…raising additional funds from elsewhere,” then the foundation is doing its job, he said.
As LETV’s first recognition from a major national foundation, the Chairman Grant from the Benton Foundation is a major milestone for LETV. “The foundation’s vote of confidence is deeply gratifying to me personally, and should signal our work’s significance and solidity to other funders,” Foster said.
Funds for Living Earth Television, including the donation from the Benton Foundation, go to preparing films with introductions to set the cultural context for viewers as well as help with translation and sub-title fees. Living Earth Television’s website at letv.org shows hits originating from 75 countries in the first quarter of 2009. If you are interested in donating to LETV and want to take advantage of a 15- or 30-second broadcast sponsorship slot, please contact Martha Foster at (847) 217-7988 or [email protected].
Living Earth Television
Living Earth Television (LETV) is creating the world’s first global, noncommercial television broadcasting service. LETV finds nonfiction programs made by local television producers and independents all over the world, and translates them for broadcast to an international audience. Through LETV programs, viewers can learn about neighbors around the world. As we understand and celebrate similarities and differences, we can build a more peaceful, sustainable world – together. To learn more about LETV and to watch video samples, please visit LETV’s website at www.letv.org
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The Benton Foundation
The Benton Foundation works to ensure that media and telecommunications serve the public interest and enhance democracy. It pursues this mission by seeking policy solutions that support the values of access, diversity and equity, and by demonstrating the value of media and telecommunications for improving the quality of life for all. It is a private foundation, an institutional hybrid, bridging the worlds of philanthropy, public policy and community action.
Contact Living Earth Television
847.217.7988
Email to: [email protected]
