NEW ORLEANS – WYES-TV/ Channel 12 held a special building preview event Wednesday, September 14, 2016, for the WYES Board of Trustees, Capital Campaign Major Donors and Committee Members. During the reception, President and General Manager Allan Pizzato along with Breaking New Ground Campaign Co-Chairs Bobby Bories and Danny Conwill announced the $17 million, 47,000 square foot building will now be known as the Paulette and Frank Stewart Innovation Center for Educational Media.
Recognized for a generous gift to the building from the Frank B. Stewart, Jr. Foundation – the largest gift in WYES history – and the Stewarts' life-long support to WYES, Frank Stewart said, “WYES is the major resource of education, history, healthy and honest programs that teach the young, the middle-aged, and the old. I find the content to be truly rewarding. WYES' enduring mission of educational programming to the community is one of the main reasons why Paulette and I were inspired to make a substantial contribution.”
The Paulette and Frank Stewart Innovation Center for Educational Media located at WYES' historic location on 916 Navarre Ave. in the heart of Lakeview will take WYES "beyond the TV set" with advanced technology to create pioneering content that can be streamed across new platforms worldwide, enhanced studio space that includes theater seating and event space for public use, station reps said.
The Stewarts' philanthropy brings WYES one step closer to completing its capital campaign goal. Building Chair Alan Philipson said, “We are now working towards raising funds to outfit and equip the new complex. I hope regular viewers and the communities we serve will lend a hand and donate to the Breaking New Ground Campaign.”
WYES is within $500,000 of reaching its primary goal for construction. In order to equip and outfit the complex, WYES will launch a finishing campaign of $1.5 million that will take the station across the finish line in 2017, when WYES celebrates its 60th anniversary of serving the Greater New Orleans, Southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The Paulette and Frank Stewart Innovation Center for Educational Media is scheduled to open Spring 2017.
Frank and Paulette Stewart, Jr.
