We Need Your Help...

This August WCTE PBS will be celebrating our 46th anniversary in the Upper Cumberland! Every August, we celebrate this anniversary by raising funds for the WCTE PBS Education Endowment.

WCTE's Education Endowment was started in 2018 to ensure that funding would always be available for WCTE’s educational initiatives. Many children in the Upper Cumberland region lack necessary early learning educational resources, but thanks to the generosity of members like you- WCTE PBS has served as an education partner in the Upper Cumberland for over 45 years, striving to meet this need by providing the region with award-winning programs and educational outreach. 

In addition to our four over-the-air channels, free WCTE PBS events give educators, families, and children the opportunity to learn about STEAM, early literacy strategies and PBS KIDS apps and games. The WCTE PBS Education Endowment will help make support for WCTE PBS’s educational outreach more sustainable. Help us ensure that families in the Upper Cumberland have access to quality educational programming and tools, hands-on learning experiences, and community and engagement initiatives by donating to the WCTE PBS Education Endowment today. Donate now to help fund the WCTE PBS Education Endowment and support educational outreach and lifelong learning in the Upper Cumberland. Thank you!

WCTE is grateful to our Day of Support sponsors for their generous support of WCTE's Educational Endowment fund! 

Special thanks goes to Swallows Insurance, who has agreed to match your contribution, effectively doubling the money raised for the Educational Endowment which funds early learning literacy in the Upper Cumberland. 

What's an endowment? An endowment is a long-term savings and source of enduring, stable funds for an organization. WCTEs educational endowment was started in 2018 to ensure that funds would always be there to establish lifelong learning and cultural storytelling while enriching lives with educational initiatives. Your investment in the Education Endowment fund is permanent, while only a small percentage of the earned interest will be used each year to support the station's mission. A designated gift today secures and grows financial resources that will play a vital role in assisting the station in providing informative and educational content to the community. More importantly, your gift will be added to the already $330,000 dollars raised that aims to safeguard the longevity and independence of the station by creating a reliable reserve of finances for future programming and educational endeavors.

Make a gift on behalf of your favorite PBS show or series and we will recognize your gift on-air!

Make a gift on in honor of loyal PBS viewers and we will recognize the viewers and your gift!

Rural Upper Cumberland communities face a large number of at-risk children affected by poverty than more urban communities in Tennessee, resulting in a higher number of high school dropouts, incarcerations, opioid addictions, homelessness and generational poverty. Many children in the Upper Cumberland are isolated, have limited resources, and lack education.

Over time, generational poverty creates disheartening challenges. It limits the quality of the workforce, decreases job diversity, lowers income levels, and increases the number of children living in poverty.

Currently, 18.9% of adults in the Upper Cumberland don’t have a high school diploma and 14.7% are living in poverty. In Putnam County alone, 40% of students start school below the skill level needed for kindergarten readiness and 58% of them are economically disadvantaged.

Corby King, Director of Schools for PCSS

"We are thankful for our partnership with WCTE that brings educational content to our families and the community. We both believe in the power of education and together we have been able to accomplish communicating important educational topics and opportunities to families all over the region."

Ms. Alma Anderson, Principal/Head of School Avery Trace Middle School

WCTE PBS is a valuable asset to educators in the Upper Cumberland.  WCTE works well with educators and offers a wide variety of programs that support learning.  I love the relationship that WCTE has with educators!

Melanie Bussell, RTI Supervisor for PCSS

"I love that WCTE works with PCSS for their Live at 5 shows that showcase the Putnam County School System's programs. They also produced several videos to educate families about FASFA and other opportunities."

Cindy Putman, Academic Social Interventionist, Putnam County School System

"WCTE PBS is the educational leader in Central TN, from birth to lifelong learning, we are here for you!" 

Hal Harder

"The incredible staff of WCTE are few but mighty, and the outstanding PBS programming from their 4 channels barely scratches the surface of what they do. From education to events to business and regional promotion, they make a huge impact on the quality of life in Middle Tennessee. You can be proud of YOUR dynamic little station. Support it if you can."

Patrick Cripps, DeKalb Schools Superintendent

PBS was a tremendous asset to our families during an unprecedented time in the history of education.  We appreciate the partnership between the Tennessee Department of Education and WCTE/PBS. 

Dr. Cephas Ablakwa

"WCTE PBS is committed to inspiring and promoting lifelong learning in the Upper Cumberland region. From early literacy to workforce development, we are proud to provided comprehensive resources and support to a diversity of educational initiatives in our communities."

Rural Upper Cumberland communities face a large number of at-risk children affected by poverty, resulting in high school dropouts, incarcerations, opioid addictions, and generational poverty. Many children in the Upper Cumberland are isolated, have limited resources and lack education opportunities. Over time, generational poverty creates disheartening challenges. It limits the quality of the workforce, decreases job diversity, lowers income levels, and increases the number of children living in poverty.

WCTE has served as an education partner in the Upper Cumberland for more than 40 years, providing the region with award-winning productions and educational outreach. In 2018, WCTE convened a Community Collaborative for Early Learning Media to increase the reach and effectiveness of the outreach program. In the 2018-2019 school year, exactly 2,228 educators, 2,564 families and 18,019 children benefited from hands-on experiences via the Ready To Learn PBS KIDS curriculum. These free WCTE events gave educators, families and children the opportunity to learn about STEM, early literacy strategies and the PBS KIDS apps and games.

WCTE is making a difference in the Upper Cumberland for educators, families and kids who need it the most. As a non-profit, funding for educational outreach is a challenge. All of the free resources for participants are NOT free for WCTE. In the past, we've diligently written grants to keep the mission going. That can be tenuous and limited source of funding at best. Diversified funding is crucial to ensure the future of our education outreach initiatives. Your help will go towards providing permanent funding to ensure that all people have access to quality educational tools and programming, hands-on learning experiences, and community and engagement initiatives.