UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – Twenty years after his death, Fred Rogers still has an impact on American culture.
Lehigh Valley Public Media will celebrate the legacy of Mr. Rogers and recognize community members who reflect his ideals with its annual Good Neighbor Awards in Breinigsville on Tuesday, May 23.
- The Good Neighbor Awards are presented by Lehigh Valley Public Media
- They honor the legacy of Fred Rogers and recognize community leaders
- The night raises money for LVPM's education outreach programs
This is the seventh year for the awards night, which benefits the public media organization’s Good Neighbor Fund, established to support LVPM’s education outreach programs.
Lehigh Valley Public Media is comprised of PBS39, 91.3 WLVR and LehighValleyNews.com – all nonprofit media based on the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem, Pa.
It also organizes education programs across the Lehigh Valley, partnering with teachers and nearly two dozen school districts.
The Good Neighbor Awards are timed to coincide with Kindness Day, which was inspired by Fred Rogers and his long-running PBS show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
CEO Tim Fallon said money raised through the Good Neighbor Awards goes toward programs that deliver educational supplies to underserved communities and free PBS39 programming throughout the year. Those efforts included the delivery of more than 9,000 “smart sacks” filled with educational activities for kids and their families.
“Everyone at PBS39, 91.3 WLVR, and LehighValleyNews.com, is excited to honor our good neighbors who are committed to the growth, prosperity, and well-being of the Greater Lehigh Valley,” Fallon said in a news release.
The Good Neighbor Awards are timed to coincide with Kindness Day, which was inspired by Rogers and his long-running PBS show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Rogers used 1-4-3 as another way of saying “I love you,” with the numbers representing the numbers of the letters in each word. May 23 is the 143rd day of the year.
The Good Neighbor Awards will be held at the Delta Hotel by Marriott, formerly the Holiday Inn Fogelsville. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m.
The honorees
Receiving Good Neighbor Awards will be Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne, Steven Thompson and the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.
- Pat Browne is the former Republican state senator from Allentown who served 18 years in the Senate, and before that, 10 years in the state House. He is the architect of Allentown’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone and an advocate for early childhood education. He was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and served on several others including the education committee and communications and technology committee.
- Steven Thompson is vice president of finance for Delane Consulting, a professional consulting and talent management firm. He served on the Lehigh Valley Public Media board of directors from 2001 to 2023. He was board chairman from 2020 to 2022. Thompson has been a champion for youth, education and community, serving on the executive board of the Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is an active member of his congregation at East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem.
- The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley is led by CEO Karen Smith. The center connects individuals and businesses interested in volunteering with dozens of local nonprofit organizations. It coordinates volunteers for the 9/11 Day of Service, Family Volunteer Day and the MLK Jr. Day of Service.
Highmark Blue Shield is title sponsor for the Good Neighbor Awards.