Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation and WHNT-TV/WHDF-TV Donate $15,000 To “Project Lifesaver”
Stations Celebrate the Life of Employee Ivy Anderson by Supporting Marshall Sheriff’s Office Efforts to Provide Lifesaving Technology to Local Residents with Cognitive Disorders
IRVING, TX and HUNTSVILLE, AL (Aug. 7, 2020) – The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation announced today it will donate $15,000 to “Project Lifesaver,” on behalf of WHNT-TV/WHDF-TV, the Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., television stations serving the Huntsville, AL, area (DMA #78). The donation is being made to celebrate the life and work of WHNT-TV reporter, Ivy Anderson, who passed away suddenly in August 2019, shortly after reporting about “Project Lifesaver’s” mission and fundraising efforts.
“Project Lifesaver” is operated locally by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and is designed to provide law enforcement, first responders and caregivers a way of monitoring and protecting individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering. These individuals are equipped with transmitters that enable them to be found easily if they wander off. The program is critically important for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
“Project Lifesaver” is free to families that need it, but the equipment is expensive, and the program is funded largely through public and charitable donations. “Project Lifesaver” was highlighted in a local news story produced by WHNT-TV reporter Ivy Anderson that aired in August 2019, and resulted in several new donations. Shortly after the story aired, Ms. Anderson suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.
“Ivy was a bright, young, shining star in our newsroom, and her reporting on ‘Project Lifesaver’ and the resulting donations enabled the local sheriff’s office to purchase four new transmitters and receivers for the program,” said Stan Pylant, Vice President and General Manager of WHNT-TV/WHDF-TV. “We miss Ivy every day, but we are incredibly proud to be making this donation to celebrate her life and the good work she did. Giving back to the communities served by Nexstar in 114 markets across the country is core to the company’s mission and we are proud to make this donation on behalf of WHNT-TV/WHDF-TV, Nexstar Media Group, and all of Nexstar’s 13,000 employees.”
Commenting on the donation, Chief Steve Guthrie of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office said, “Ivy Anderson developed a passion to see ‘Project Lifesaver’ succeed—she took a personal interest in helping to promote the program’s benefits and that led to an outpouring of support from the community. Since then, we have raised enough money to buy equipment related to ‘Project Lifesaver’ for every shift in the department. We are honoring Ivy’s memory by putting our ‘Project Lifesaver’ receivers in her name. Donations are still coming in, including the $15,000 so generously donated by WHNT 19 and the Nexstar Foundation. I want to personally thank WHNT 19 and its staff for helping us continue ‘Project Lifesaver’ and helping to keep the people of Marshall County safe.”
The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation’s mission is to contribute to and work with public charities and non-profit organizations to improve the communities in which Nexstar Media and its subsidiaries do business. The foundation was originally established in 1958 and it makes donations of approximately $350,000 annually.
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About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs, or provides sales and other services to 196 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 114 markets or approximately 38% of all U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC’s UHF discount). Nexstar’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar’s community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content while creating new revenue opportunities. Nexstar also owns WGN America, a growing national general entertainment cable network and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network, a top tier cable asset. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv.
Nexstar Media Contact:
Gary Weitman
EVP & Chief Communications Officer
312/222-3394
gweitman@nexstar.tv