A gift for the future, The PBS partnership that will never end

Hello Friends and Supporters,

Suzanne Barchers' journey with PBS is a remarkable testament to her commitment to education and her lifelong dedication to supporting quality media for children. Here's a summary of her story:

Chapter One
Suzanne Barchers' first experience with PBS began in the early 1970s when she was teaching kindergarten in a school in an underprivileged neighborhood in Peoria. Most children did not have televisions in their homes, so each morning Suzanne would tote her small black and white television into school so that her kindergarten students could watch Sesame Street for thirty minutes. Each afternoon, she'd take the TV home.

Chapter Two
Flash forward thirty years. By then Suzanne had finished her doctorate in education, written many books for teachers and children, and was working in publishing. While serving as Editor in Chief and VP at LeapFrog, an educational toy company, she spoke on a panel about the controversy surrounding claims that certain media products could increase a child's IQ.

An attending representative from PBS invited her to serve on the PBS Next Generation Media Advisory Board, and suddenly she was sitting alongside such greats as Dr. Milton Chen (George Lucas Educational Foundation), Mo Willems (author), Rosemarie Trujillo (Sesame Street), and various media and research experts. The Board met for ten years, and each year the staff reported on the changes made and programs developed based on the board's recommendations. PBS listened. They changed. And they made sure the volunteer board knew how important they were to the process of their program development.

Chapter Three
During these decades, it never occurred to Suzanne to financially support PBS. She contributed her time, of course, but she admits she gained more than she gave while on the board. Meanwhile, her sister, with whom she emailed daily, would tell her about all the PBS events she and her husband attended in central Florida. "You need to donate to them," she'd say. "There are so many events, and the programming is outstanding." And so, she did. Membership opened so many opportunities to attend those special events her sister had raved about, which led to chapter four.

Pull quote on block or ribbon of color in different (from the email body text) but complementary font: "While all my experiences with PBS have been meaningful, my fourth chapter with PBS as a legacy partner will never end. And for that, I am grateful."

Chapter Four
It was time to update her estate planning, and it was surprisingly easy to incorporate a gift to RMPBS into her will. She consulted her family and attorney and submitted relevant documents to PBS to demonstrate her intentions. Suzanne hopes that others will be inspired to make PBS part of their lives now and forever. "While all my experiences with PBS have been meaningful, my fourth chapter with PBS as a legacy partner will never end. And for that, I am grateful."

Suzanne's journey is a testament of the enduring influence of Rocky Mountain PBS on her life and the countless children who have reaped the benefits of its educational programming. Her unwavering commitment shines brightly, and her choice to include Rocky Mountain PBS into her estate planning ensures that her legacy of supporting education will endure for generations.