ARLINGTON, VA; Jan. 10, 2024— PBS announced the election of entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of a new memoir Sheila Johnson to the PBS Foundation Board of Directors.
As PBS's national fundraising arm, the PBS Foundation secures the major gifts and grants necessary to maintain and enhance PBS’s service to the American public. This funding helps produce trusted, accessible media of the highest quality and advances priorities in support of PBS’s member stations nationwide.
“I’m proud to welcome Sheila Johnson, a trailblazing entrepreneur, to the PBS Foundation Board,” said PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger. “Sheila’s unparalleled track record of building organizations from the ground up, and her deep understanding of what entertains and inspires audiences, will be extremely important to our work. The PBS Foundation plays an essential role supporting PBS, and the Foundation will be even stronger because of Sheila’s addition to the Board.”
Johnson is the founder and CEO of the Salamander Collection, which operates luxury properties centered around unique destinations in the U.S. and the Caribbean. She is also a powerful influence in the entertainment industry, having co-founded the first cable television network for African American audiences, Black Entertainment Television (BET). In addition, Johnson has served as executive producer of documentary and feature films and is the founder and chair of the Middleburg Film Festival.
As a partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Johnson is also the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams, all based in Washington, D.C.: the Wizards (NBA), Capitals (NHL), and Mystics (WNBA). She spearheaded the formation of WE Capital, a venture capital consortium, to support and invest in female-led enterprises.
In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Johnson is an active philanthropist and community leader. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, where she serves on the Education Committee, and chairman of the College of Performing Arts at The New School. Johnson lends her expertise to the boards of directors at the Metropolitan Opera, Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the Simon & Schuster Publishing Advisory Board. She is a committee member of the NeuroArts Blueprint: Advancing the Science of Arts, Health, and Wellbeing.
Johnson's memoir, “Walk Through Fire,” was published by Simon & Schuster in September 2023.
“I am so pleased to welcome Ms. Johnson to our Board,” said PBS Foundation Executive Director Brian Reddington. “Her varied and extensive experience in media, hospitality, philanthropy, and the arts will be of immense value as we continue supporting PBS in its vital work of informing, inspiring, and entertaining Americans of all backgrounds through innovative, thought-provoking media.”
To learn more about the PBS Foundation, please visit foundation.pbs.org.
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About the PBS Foundation
Established in 2004 as the national fundraising arm for PBS, the PBS Foundation is a leader for philanthropic support of PBS, ensuring that PBS continues to be an excellent provider of outstanding programs and services. The PBS Foundation is both a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a 509(a)(3) supporting organization to PBS, and its purpose is to seek, cultivate, and receive philanthropic gifts and grants at the national level. The Foundation then administers these gifts and grants on behalf of PBS. By offering donors opportunities to make outsized impact possible and working collaboratively and cooperatively with member stations nationwide, the Foundation secures the extraordinary funding necessary to maintain and enhance PBS’s commitment to serving the American public. In particular, the Foundation raises funds for PBS’s priority projects and initiatives, including high-quality, accessible media that addresses climate; democracy, civics, & journalism; the arts; educational programming from PBS KIDS; and more. Learn more at foundation.pbs.org.
Media Contacts:
Alison Mehrman
Senior Director, Philanthropic Communications
PBS Foundation
aamehrman@pbs.org
Jason Phelps
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
PBS
jbphelps@pbs.org