“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...”
Those time-tested words underscore my belief that faith and hope are a human being’s most powerful assets, able to be summoned to inspire and influence a desired outcome. It is in those words that we at WBGO find foundation and a guiding light, revealing the legacy and promise of our treasured institution: our commitment to cultivating and serving the world’s largest and most influential community of jazz practitioners and patrons, now, and forever.
We find power and dedication in the more than 1 million followers on our various broadcast and digital platforms; in the creators of the forms we venerate; and in the purveyors and surveyors of this epic artistic landscape. Among them are distinguished members of United States Congress, New Jersey State Legislature and Newark City Council who, despite the harmful actions of some of their legislative colleagues, and at great risk to the support of their constituents, have collectively, individually and definitively invested in WBGO’s future. Their faith in our mission is the beacon of hope that inspires and incubates everything we do.
"Cogito ergo sum—I think, therefore I am!" - René Descartes
And that inspiration is the cause for our celebration, made possible by your overwhelming show of solidarity during our highly successful Summer Fund Drive. I'm ecstatic to report that over the course of two action-packed weekends, we received a record-setting $300,000 in pledges of support from 1,700 donors—more than 60% over our fund drive goal.
On behalf of the entire team of BGO staff, volunteers, and Board members, I offer my deepest gratitude for your participation. The collective leveraging of faith in our actions today instills hope for tomorrow—and is evidenced in what we hear every day in the sounds of public radio.
Onward and upward!
Steven A. Williams
President and CEO
