KGO-TV ANNUAL FCC - EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
PUBLIC FILE REPORT
PUBLIC FILE REPORT
AUGUST 1, 2023
This report covers the period from August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023. KGO-TV ("the Station) has a longstanding commitment to a policy of equal employment and advancement opportunities for all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, marital status, religion, age, national origin or citizenship status, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, covered veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by state and federal law.
In the Station's commitment to fair employment practices, we strive to ensure that equal consideration is extended to all employees and applicants in recruitment, selection procedures, employee development, performance evaluation, promotions, transfers, benefits and other aspects of employment.
It is the Station's policy to promote the realization of equal employment opportunity through a positive, continuing program of specific recruitment, outreach, hiring, promotion and other practices.
Employees and others believing they have not been treated in accordance with KGO-TV's EEO Policy are encouraged to contact Bradley Hoffman, Human Resources Manager, or their immediate supervisor.
In compliance with the EEO record keeping requirements, the Station creates a file for each position to be filled. The file generally includes, but is not limited to, the following items: copies of advertisements, emails, and distributions to the Station's mailing lists used to notify sources of openings, and a summary of interviewees who applied for vacancies as well as their referral sources.
In addition, the Station documents and retains information about its long-term recruitment initiatives. These files generally include, but are not limited to: the nature and date of each activity, the scope of the Station's participation, and the names and titles of the Station personnel involved.
A. NOTIFICATION OF JOB OPENINGS AND POSITIONS FILLED
A listing of all full-time positions filled and the number of candidates interviewed from August 1, 2022 until July 31, 2023 is noted in Attachments A and B.
During the reporting period, every job vacancy at KGO-TV was posted on the Company's website (www.abc7news.com) as well as on the ABC Corporate Job Posting list at www.disneycareers.com. Each vacancy was also posted to DirectEmployers Association Job Syndication Alliances, detailed in Attachment C, which syndicates job listings to a wide network of job sites that include minority/ diversity sites, disability sites, military/ veteran network sites, Federal and State Government Sites, colleges, and regional groups.
KGO-TV also uses an electronic resume tracking system (Workday) on the Disneycareers.com website inviting candidates to apply, upload a resume and complete EEOC information.
KGO-TV also sent notifications of job openings to the list of organizations in Attachment D that have requested to receive notice of job postings from the station.
KGO-TV also uses an electronic resume tracking system (Workday) on the Disneycareers.com website inviting candidates to apply, upload a resume and complete EEOC information.
KGO-TV also sent notifications of job openings to the list of organizations in Attachment D that have requested to receive notice of job postings from the station.
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MAILING LIST: The Station posts the following message on our Company's job posting website https://abc7news.com/jobs-employment-notification-request/1766456/
KGO-TV/ABC7 is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability
We would like to widely publicize our job opportunities. Any organization that regularly distributes employment information to job seekers or that refers candidates to employers may ask to be put on our mailing list to receive information about job vacancies. For further information, please contact Human Resources at 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, phone: 415-954-7745 or email the Human Resources Manager at bradley.hoffman@abc.com.
We would like to widely publicize our job opportunities. Any organization that regularly distributes employment information to job seekers or that refers candidates to employers may ask to be put on our mailing list to receive information about job vacancies. For further information, please contact Human Resources at 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, phone: 415-954-7745 or email the Human Resources Manager at bradley.hoffman@abc.com.
In addition, the Station aired the following promotional spots:
30 second promo:
Aired 105 times (various hours) on our regular channel and 365 times on our D2 channel.
Aired 105 times (various hours) on our regular channel and 365 times on our D2 channel.
ABC7 is an equal opportunity employer and we would like to publicize our job opportunities.
That's why we encourage any organization that distributes employment information or refers candidates to employers to be put on our job vacancy mailing list.
For more information, contact the KGO-TV Human Resources Department at 900 Front Street, San Francisco, California 94111.
Or log on to our website at ABC7News.com.
That's why we encourage any organization that distributes employment information or refers candidates to employers to be put on our job vacancy mailing list.
For more information, contact the KGO-TV Human Resources Department at 900 Front Street, San Francisco, California 94111.
Or log on to our website at ABC7News.com.
B. LONG-TERM RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES
1. College Student Internship Program (Paid)
KGO-TV continues to offer internships to college and university students. The students are paid the San Francisco minimum wage during the internship. The average intern works approximately 20 hours (or less) per week. The students are given the opportunity to work in a variety of departments to educate them about the different possibilities in a career in broadcasting and provide them with practical hands-on experience that complements their academic studies.
During the reporting period, KGO-TV engaged a total of 15 interns: 2 interns working in Marketing/Public Affairs with a focus on Race and Social Justice issues, 3 interns working in News - Consumer Affairs, 5 interns working in News - Sports, 5 interns working in News - Assignment Desk.
KGO-TV continues to offer internships to college and university students. The students are paid the San Francisco minimum wage during the internship. The average intern works approximately 20 hours (or less) per week. The students are given the opportunity to work in a variety of departments to educate them about the different possibilities in a career in broadcasting and provide them with practical hands-on experience that complements their academic studies.
During the reporting period, KGO-TV engaged a total of 15 interns: 2 interns working in Marketing/Public Affairs with a focus on Race and Social Justice issues, 3 interns working in News - Consumer Affairs, 5 interns working in News - Sports, 5 interns working in News - Assignment Desk.
2. Diversity Conventions
August 3 through August 7, Tracey Watkowski, News Director, Julian Glover, Anchor/Race and Social Justice Reporter and Zach Fuentes, Reporter, attended the combined National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) career fair and convention in Las Vegas, NV.
September 8 through September 11, Tara Campbell, Reporter, Paige McIntyre, Senior Digital Producer, and then Segment Producer, now Executive Producer, Ken Miguel attended the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) career fair and convention in Chicago, IL.
July19 through July 22, Kimberlee Sakamoto, Executive Producer - Digital, attended the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) annual convention in Washington DC. While there she participated on a panel for the ABC News Storytellers Summit.
August 3 through August 7, Tracey Watkowski, News Director, Julian Glover, Anchor/Race and Social Justice Reporter and Zach Fuentes, Reporter, attended the combined National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) career fair and convention in Las Vegas, NV.
September 8 through September 11, Tara Campbell, Reporter, Paige McIntyre, Senior Digital Producer, and then Segment Producer, now Executive Producer, Ken Miguel attended the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) career fair and convention in Chicago, IL.
July19 through July 22, Kimberlee Sakamoto, Executive Producer - Digital, attended the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) annual convention in Washington DC. While there she participated on a panel for the ABC News Storytellers Summit.
3. Employee Job Training
The Station provided opportunities for employees to participate in job training sessions to help them acquire skills that could advance their careers and qualify them for higher positions:
OTVU Multi-Skilled Training: Over the course of the year KGO had members of its News Department attend classes that helped them learn new methods for shooting, writing, and editing.
OTVU Dean Training: Over the course of the year KGO's tenured Segment Producer and a Dean of OTV University held one-on-one trainings with producers, photographers, and reporters to enhance their skills with Adobe Premier and to train them to be multi-skilled journalists.
Disney Leadership Essentials: September 9: Janel Andronico, Senior Producer - Marketing, attended a 3-month leadership training course.
Google Ad Sense: December 1: Leonard Torres, Producer - Marketing, attended Google Ad Sense training to advance his skills as a Digital Marketing Specialist.
Disney Leadership Essentials: January 11: Janel Andronico, Senior Producer - Marketing, served a Peer Coach in a subsequent 3-month leadership training course.
Media Safety Training: All field personnel, 72 people total, attended Media Safety Training conducted by the University of Findlay. This training was conducted February 27 - March 1, 2023.
Adobe Summit: March 21-22: Jeremy Stepp, Lead Designer - News Content, attended training on Adobe Summit.
Poynter Institute: May and June: 104 employees, reporters and producers, attended Poynter Institute Crime Coverage sessions which helped to transform the Station's coverage of crime related news stories.
The Station provided opportunities for employees to participate in job training sessions to help them acquire skills that could advance their careers and qualify them for higher positions:
OTVU Multi-Skilled Training: Over the course of the year KGO had members of its News Department attend classes that helped them learn new methods for shooting, writing, and editing.
OTVU Dean Training: Over the course of the year KGO's tenured Segment Producer and a Dean of OTV University held one-on-one trainings with producers, photographers, and reporters to enhance their skills with Adobe Premier and to train them to be multi-skilled journalists.
Disney Leadership Essentials: September 9: Janel Andronico, Senior Producer - Marketing, attended a 3-month leadership training course.
Google Ad Sense: December 1: Leonard Torres, Producer - Marketing, attended Google Ad Sense training to advance his skills as a Digital Marketing Specialist.
Disney Leadership Essentials: January 11: Janel Andronico, Senior Producer - Marketing, served a Peer Coach in a subsequent 3-month leadership training course.
Media Safety Training: All field personnel, 72 people total, attended Media Safety Training conducted by the University of Findlay. This training was conducted February 27 - March 1, 2023.
Adobe Summit: March 21-22: Jeremy Stepp, Lead Designer - News Content, attended training on Adobe Summit.
Poynter Institute: May and June: 104 employees, reporters and producers, attended Poynter Institute Crime Coverage sessions which helped to transform the Station's coverage of crime related news stories.
4. Scholarship Program
Ongoing since 2007: KGO-TV sponsors The Pete Wilson Journalism Scholarship that is administered and awarded annually by The Radio Television Digital News Foundation (RTDNF). Mr. Wilson was a news anchor at KGO-TV. The endowment provides an annual $2000 journalism scholarship in perpetuity in Pete Wilson's name. Applicants for this endowed scholarship award must be from the San Francisco Bay area or studying in the Bay area in pursuit of a degree in journalism.
For more information is link below: https://www.rtdna.org/scholarships-and-fellowships#petewilson
The 2022 Scholarship was awarded to Julietta Bisharyan, a graduate student at The University of California-Berkeley.
Ongoing since 2007: KGO-TV sponsors The Pete Wilson Journalism Scholarship that is administered and awarded annually by The Radio Television Digital News Foundation (RTDNF). Mr. Wilson was a news anchor at KGO-TV. The endowment provides an annual $2000 journalism scholarship in perpetuity in Pete Wilson's name. Applicants for this endowed scholarship award must be from the San Francisco Bay area or studying in the Bay area in pursuit of a degree in journalism.
For more information is link below: https://www.rtdna.org/scholarships-and-fellowships#petewilson
The 2022 Scholarship was awarded to Julietta Bisharyan, a graduate student at The University of California-Berkeley.
5. Educational and Community Outreach Programs
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences: Year Round: Paula Marcheschi, Creative Director serves on the NATAS Board of Governors and attends monthly board meetings, as well as providing additional peer and scholarship judging, educational programs, and enrichment events.
Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition: Year Round: Mimi Kwan, Vice President of Community Affairs serves as a Board Member of the Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition.
Allies in Action: Faline Howard (August 2022): KGO celebrates outstanding youth who volunteer and advocate for a better community. Girl Scout Faline Howard's deep admiration for monarchs motivated her to spearhead a movement tackling the butterfly's declining population, while promoting conservation and restoration. With every milkweed planted, Howard helps preserve monarch butterflies. Watch her story here.
San Francisco Unified School District: Teacher Externship: Beginning in July and continuing into August, SFUSD high school teacher E. Michael Chelsky spoke with KGO staff for his summer externship. Mr. Chelsky teaches Media Arts at Independence High School and requested to shadow KGO employees, newscasts and the workplace in order to better teach his students about the industry and the evolution of much needed skills.
Back to School Backpack Drive: July-August: KGO employees volunteered to purchase and fill 200 Disney backpacks to donate to several Boys and Girls Clubs chapters around the Bay Area in: Contra Costa, San Francisco, and the Peninsula.
Ascend National Convention: August 17: KGO's Dion Lim participated in the annual Ascend National Convention as MC of the Closing Gratitude Dinner and separately shared about her professional trajectory and her work shedding light on the rise of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic. Ascend is the largest Pan-Asian business professional membership organization in North America. This year's convention was attended by 2000 AAPI cross-industry professionals.
Palo Alto Festival of the Arts: August 27-28: KGO sponsored the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, the Bay Area's premier fine arts festival celebrating their 39th anniversary. Hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, this multifaceted arts celebration features 300 high quality artists, Italian street painting, two stages of entertainment, street corner concerts and a Kids' Art Studio.
Marin City 80th Celebration: August-September: KGO sponsored the Marin City 80th Celebration, commemorating the Black narrative and experience of a people who have endured incredible odds in the city of Marin. The celebration featured exhibits, a theatrical play, book release and a Labor Day event establishing The Marin City Historical and Preservation Society.
Allies in Action: Samantha Ramirez (September 2022): For Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, KGO honors Samantha Ramirez, Senior Program Coordinator of the Marin County Youth Commission. Samantha has made it her life's mission to always show up with heart and stand for justice. Named San Rafael's "Citizen of the Year," she leads with courage, kindness, and inclusivity to inspire the youth community throughout this month and always. Watch her story here.
Oasis for Girls: September 8: KGO's Luz Pena MC'd the Shine Gala, raising essential funds for Oasis for Girls, which partners with young women of color, ages 14-18, from under-resourced communities in San Francisco to cultivate the skills, knowledge, and confidence to discover their dreams and build strong futures.
Moraga Rotary Club: September 10: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd the Moraga Rotary Club's charity fashion show.
Chinese Historical & Cultural Project of Santa Clara County: September 17: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the 35th Anniversary of the Chinese Historical & Cultural Project Gala, titled "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future." CHCP is volunteer-driven and works to preserve and present Chinese American history and culture through museum exhibits and outreach programs, as well as engage with the past through oral histories of Chinese Americans.
Ronald McDonald House: September 19: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC's The Ronald McDonald House's annual fundraiser "Music on the Patio" in Menlo Park.
Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area: September 24: KGO's Kumasi Aaron MC'd the Bay Area Urban League's Empowerment Awards and Garden Soiree at the Oakland Museum of California. The event celebrated those who have sacrificed and worked tirelessly for Equity, Justice and Inclusion in our communities.
Center for Asian Pacific American Women: September 28: KGO's Dion Lim moderated a fireside chat at CAPAW's annual regional conference, an inspiring day of learning, networking and creating action for a better collective future for our community. Dion interviewed Dr. Catherine Choy, UC Berkeley Professor of Ethnic Studies and Associate Dean of DEI, Belonging and Justice, as well as author of "Asian American Histories of the United States."
Allies in Action: Andre Humphrey (October 2022): Bay Area nonprofit Inner City Bliss is driven by a single goal: bringing more BLISS into the world. Founder Andre Humphrey cultivates inner peace within the community through trauma-informed, holistic wellness practices that help with trauma recovery. Watch her story here.
Operation Save a Life: October: KGO partnered with Bay Area fire departments, The Home Depot and Kidde to raise awareness of fire and carbon monoxide dangers. Fire fighters are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors to hand out as they come across homes that need them. The campaign continued throughout the month with safety tips.
Dan Ashley's Friends of Camp Concord Golf Tournament: October 3: KGO's Dan Ashley hosted his annual fundraiser to help send under-privileged children to Camp Concord in Lake Tahoe. The sold-out tournament and dinner raised over $195,000 and surpassed their goal by 15%. Other nonprofit partners include Carson's Wings of Hope, First Tee Contra Costa, Darius Jones Foundation and A Brighter Day.
Commonwealth Club: October 4: KGO's Dan Ashley attended the Commonwealth Club Board of Governor's meeting.
Northwest University Alumni Association: October 7: KGO's David Louie was honored with the prestigious Northwestern Alumni Medal from his alma mater. To commemorate his 50th anniversary at KGO, he endowed a scholarship through the Radio Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) in 2022 for Medill School of Journalism students.
San Francisco Pride Pro-Am Golf Tournament: October 7-8: KGO's Drew Tuma MC'd the SF Pride Awards Reception on October 7, celebrating honorees who have expanded LGBTQ+ inclusion in the international world of golf and sport. KGO's Tracey Watkowski and Michel Camus participated in the next-day Golf Tournament fundraiser, the golf world's biggest LGBTQ+ event and first PGA-endorsed LGBTQ sporting event.
SF Fire Kidde: October 11: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd a fire safety and awareness event.
Circus Center Gala: October 15: KGO's Frances Dinglasan MC'd the Circus Center's Trailblazers Gala: Celebrating Women in Circus. The nonprofit was founded 39 years ago as the first modern circus school in America and made circus training accessible to everyone.
Syracuse University: Making Journalism Great Again: October 19: KGO's Julian Glover spoke on Syracuse University's "Making Journalism Great Again" panel discussion with several alumni from S.I. Newhouse School of Communication.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: October 20: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd SF Chamber of Commerce's WELL Conference, geared toward Women Empowering Leadership & Learning (WELL). The WELL program provides workplace resources, best practices and a broad community of support for attendees to advance gender equality and workplace inclusion within their own organizations.
Mission Economic Development Association: October 20: KGO's Luz Pena MC'd the 48th annual Viva MEDA Gala, an opportunity to reflect on robust programs, housing, and small business support. The event celebrated Latinx community moving forward together toward equitable recovery.
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO): October 21: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd APILO's 47th Anniversary Gala, working for equal justice in the immigrant community. The nonprofit provides culturally and linguistically competent legal and social services to its underserved communities.
Contra Costa County - Court Appointed Special Advocate Program: October 22: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd "Evening of Promise" a fundraising gala for the Contra Costa County Court Appointed Special Advocate program.
San Francisco Aquarium: October 24: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd "Blue Marble" the annual fundraising gala for the San Francisco Aquarium.
Harmony Walk: October 29: KGO's Julian Glover MC'd the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program's (GRIP) annual Harmony Walk. GRIP is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic coalition of congregations from varied faiths working together as a diverse and inclusive coalition to help those of our community in need to transition to self-sufficiency. GRIP has expanded to serve 15,000 homeless, hungry and low-income annually, including emergency shelter, housing for families, meals and basic needs.
Welcome Home Project: October 27: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd Welcome Home Project's annual breakfast fundraiser, helping homeless families transitioning into permanent housing. The project helps struggling families with brand new, basic goods that many of us take for granted when settling into the safety of a new home.
Commonwealth Club of California: Distinguished Citizen Award: October 28: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the Commonwealth Club's Distinguished Citizen Award, recognizing four outstanding community advocates who have served in longstanding leadership roles remedy injustice, ensure basic needs are met with dignity, provide equitable access to healthcare and medicine and demonstrate an abundance of benevolence and generosity of spirt..
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City: October 29: KGO's Amanda del Castillo MC'd the spooktacular experience, complete with trick or treating, pumpkin patch, photo booth, costume contest, live entertainment, face painting and a movie!
Walk to End Alzheimer's: October 29, November 3: KGO sponsored the Walk to End Alzheimer's two Bay Area locations. PSAs and newscast guest interviews promoted the events. KGO's Michael Finney MC the East Bay walk, while KGO's Reggie Aqui MC'd the San Francisco walk.
Allies in Action: Sara Moncada (November 2022): In honor of Native American Heritage Month, KGO spotlighted the CEO of The Cultural Conservancy, Sara Moncada. She is committed to revitalizing Indigenous agriculture and transcending non-nutritious food diets towards more healthy ways of living. Watch her story here.
Alzheimer's Association "Pop-Up Promise Garden": November 3: "ABC7 Memory Makers" walk team and supporters planted artificial flowers in a pop-up promise flower garden of hope for those who live with Alzheimer's and those who care for them. Currently, more than five million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050.
Oakland Symphony: November 5: KGO's Dan Ashley attended the Oakland Symphony's Board planning retreat.
Memorial Service - Richard Herron: November 6: KGO's Dan Ashley spoke at the memorial service for San Francisco/Oakland teacher and community leader Richard Herron.
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Volunteering: November 16: KGO volunteers helped at Alameda County Community Food Bank's pop up pantry at The Unity Council in Oakland. Disney supported our volunteer activity by unlocking a $10,000 grant for the food bank.
Franchise Fund Graduation: November 16: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd the graduation of the Franchise Fund's second cohort. The program is supported by the Golden State Warriors and is designed to support minority-owned Bay Area small businesses. It ensures that these business owners receive certification to get exposure, to help their communities and take advantage of future business opportunities.
Orinda Women's Club - "Festival of Trees": November 17: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd the Orinda Women's Club annual "Festival of Trees" charity fundraiser luncheon.
First Tee of Contra Costa County: November 20: KGO's Dan Ashley is a board member of First Tee of Contra Costa County and participated as a guest golf instructor.
Toys for Tots: Ultimate Toy Drive: November-December: KGO employees supported the Ultimate Toy Drive, on-air and in-person with toy collection boxes for new and unwrapped toys to gift to the San Bruno Toys for Tots unit.
Allies in Action: Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM) (December 2022): Music can change the world because it can change the person. Enriching Lives through
Music (ELM) is creating change by bringing musical education into the lives of children in San Rafael and even helping them get into college. Watch her story here.
"Our America: Lowballed" Community Screenings: December: In support of KGO's Julian Glover's special research-turned-documentary, KGO hosted two community screenings: the Community Premiere in Marin County at the Rafael Center, and a second screening in Oakland at The New Parkway. Both screenings were followed with Q&A with Julian and families who were featured in the program.
World AIDS Day: Dec 1: KGOs Reggie Aqui moderated a program honoring World AIDS Day with the National AIDS Memorial. The special conversation included Tyler TerMeer from SF AIDS Foundation, Diane Havlir from HIV/AIDS Division at UCSF, Scott Weiner, and LS Jones, Prevention Access Campaign Mississippi. The panel discussion proved to be reflective and informative.
Oakland Symphony: December 11: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd a performance by the Oakland Symphony.
San Francisco Bay Times: December 13: KGO's Dan Ashley was a guest speaker at the San Francisco Bay Times holiday event.
Allies in Action: Vicky Lynn (January 2023): KGO recognized Victoria (Vicky) Ho Lynn, founder and president of Angels for Humans, Animals and Nature, for her devotion to educating the public on animal and environmental welfare. The work of Lynn and AHAN seeks to find animals their "forever home," even if it means across an ocean. Watch her story here.
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club: January 10: KGO's Dan Ashley presented to the members of the Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club an inside look at television news. He described experiences reporting from the front lines of many major stories, as well as his work as a prominent philanthropist and recording artist and rock and roll singer.
Rock for Shelter: January 21: KGO's Dan Ashley was the headline performer for Rock for Shelter, an evening of incredible music, fundraising and celebration in support of SHELTER, Inc.'s mission to prevent and end homelessness. Proceeds benefit Solano County-based services, including eviction prevention programs, housing at SHELTER Solano, a year-round shelter offering complete case management, rapid re-housing combined with supportive services, specialized programs for veterans, domestic violence survivors, disabled and re-entry populations, and permanent supporting housing in Vallejo.
Young Men's Service League: January 29: KGO's Sandhya Patel spoke at the Young Men's Service League's (YMSL) Crystal Springs Career Fair. Members of the nonprofit YMSL are moms and their teenage sons who volunteer together to serve local communities during their four years of high school.
Allies in Action: Brandon Nicholson (February 2023): In celebration of Black History Month, KGO spotlighted the CEO of The Hidden Genius Project, Brandon Nicholson. The community organization connects young Black males with the skills, mentors and experiences they need to become high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists. Watch the story here.
San Francisco Unified School District: February 7: KGO's Mimi Kwan hosted students from SFUSD's Independence High School's media production class. The group visited the station's control room and watched the newscast live in the studio. The group also learned about multimedia journalism with KGO Streaming Presenter/Producer Karina Nova.
Be the Match Donor Drive: February 14-16: KGO promoted the Be the Match Donor Drive at St. Mary's College of California and featured the "students as superheroes." The goal was to add more minority and multi-racial volunteers to the national bone marrow registry and help patients with blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases.
Black Joy Parade: February 26: KGO sponsored the 6th Annual Black Joy Parade in Oakland with promotion, live coverage on the 7.2 channel and 24-7 stream, and an edited re-broadcast on 7.1 the following weekend. KGO's Jobina Fortson, Julian Glover, and Kumasi Aaron hosted the parade coverage, celebrating community, culture and the Black experience. The parade saw more than 10,000 attendees, 96 Black-led contingent groups, 164 Black-owned vendors, 14 stage performances and 163 volunteers.
Allies in Action: Zara Babitzke (March 2023): For Women's History Month, KGO honored Zara Babitzke, founder of Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity Project (AHO). She says the Marin-based nonprofit is a calling of the heart, a safe place where at-risk young adults can find the support they need to overcome hardship and achieve their personal goals. Watch her story here.
Aragon High School Career Day: March 3: KGO's Kristen Sze was a Speaker at Aragon High School's Career Day.
Roots Fund Auction Gala: March 5: KGO's Kumasi Aaron volunteered as MC for The Roots Fund Auction Gala in New York City. Funds raised supports educational programs to nourish and enrich the lives of communities of color in the wine industry.
SFUSD Lincoln High School: March 10: KGO's Rick Rubin presented to the students of Abraham Lincoln High School's Digital Media Program. He took them through the history of KGO-TV and technology milestones, including the station's start in 1949 atop Mount Sutro. He compared the size of old gear to current multi-channel, digital and livestream capabilities and described the groundbreaking, social justice work of special programs like the award-winning Lowballed documentary.
San Mateo Union School District Career Expo: March 14: KGO's Mimi Kwan met with San Mateo Union High School District students and parents for the annual Career Expo. A cell phone camera, tripod, light, stick microphone and monitor were set up for an interactive activity. Students conducted mock interviews "on camera" and watched themselves on the monitor to review how they could improve their presentation skills.
Bay Area Furniture Bank: March 16: KGO sponsored the Design Heroes Charity Event, benefiting Bay Area Furniture Bank (BAFB). KGO's Casey Pratt volunteered as MC. BAFB works to address the homelessness crisis, including providing furniture and household items to the formerly unhoused.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: March 22: KGO's Tracey Watkowski and Kristen Sze spoke on the "Meet the Press" panel at the San Francisco Standard at an event benefitting Leadership San Francisco (LSF). LSF is a program with the SF Chamber of Commerce dedicated to educating and developing community trustees who will make a significant contribution to strengthen and transform our community.
ICA Cristo Rey Academy: March 23: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd ICA Cristo Rey Academy's annual business lunch, which supports the work study program that KGO participates. This innovative program helps students earn a portion of their education cost, gain job experience and connect the importance of classroom learning with real services to a business.
Injecting Hope Community Screening: March 23: KGO hosted a Community Screening of Tara Campbell's Injecting Hope documentary at the Tenderloin Museum, located in the heart of the San Francisco neighborhood facing similar challenges of the drug overdose crisis and those caught in addiction. Tara moderated a powerful panel Q&A with two San Francisco Supervisors and local community leaders about the program, community concerns and possible solutions. It was a full house with standing room only.
Family Connections Centers: March 24: KGO's Gloria Rodriguez shared the "Magic of Storytelling" with preschool children at the Family Connections Centers' Excelsior location. Family Connections serves 1900 people each year through early childhood education, family support services, summer and afterschool programs and basic needs assistance. 90% of participants are low-income, 70% are English language learners, 98% are people of color, and 2/3 were born outside of the U.S. KGO, through Disney and First Book, has donated 2500 books to help Family Connections share the love of literacy.
National Coalition of 100 Black Women: March 24: KGO's Kumasi Aaron MC'd the Oakland/Bay Area Chapter's 25th Annual Madam CJ Walker Luncheon and Empowerment Forum. The event celebrates the first African American self-made millionaire who was a pioneer in business and community and honors her legacy by recognizing Black women in the community for their outstanding accomplishments.
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Chinese Historical Society of America: March 25: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the Wong Kim Ark Day celebration, an event marking the 125th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark :: 169 U.S. 649 (1898) that the Constitutional guarantee that all persons born in the United States are citizens applied equally to Chinese Americans. The case is representative of Chinese American leadership in civil rights for all Americans.
Golden State Warriors Community Foundation: March 30th: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation impact report overview and anniversary celebration in Oakland at the new Generation Thrive headquarters.
Allies in Action: Ian Bain (April 2023): In celebration of Earth Month, KGO honored nonprofit Green Foothills and its board president Ian Bain. Since 1962, Green Foothills has served as a guardian for open spaces, farmlands and natural resources of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Bain shares more about the organization's ongoing advocacy and current campaigns to help Build a Better Bay Area. In partnership with Disney, KGO awarded Green Foothills with a $2000 grant to continue its good work. Watch her story here.
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology: April 5, 2023: KGO's Rick Rubin presented to the students of Galileo Academy of Science and Technology. He took them through the history of KGO-TV and technology milestones, including the station's start in 1949 atop Mount Sutro. He compared the size of old gear to current multi-channel, digital and livestream capabilities and described the groundbreaking, social justice work of special programs like the award-winning Lowballed documentary.
San Francisco State University: April 6: Kimmie Sakamoto, Executive Producer - Digital, was a guest speaker at San Francisco State University's broadcast journalism class.
Camp Okizu: April 14: KGO's Reggie Aqui and Stephanie Sierra MC'd the annual Art Inspiring Hope Gala, helping create a safe haven for children with cancer since 1982. Money raised helps send hundreds of kids to camp this year.
Rock the CASA: April 15: KGO's Dan Ashley produced, hosted and MC'd his annual Rock the CASA benefit concert, an evening of music for children in need. This year's headliner, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts raised important funds to support Court Appointed Special Advocates, Friends of Camp Concord, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys & Girls Club.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: April 19: KGO's Kumasi Aaron volunteered on the Host Committee of SFMOMA's annual Art Bash, the museum's most spectacular part of the year celebrating art and artists. The event supports SFMOMA's much-loved education and family programs and community engagement events that benefit 150,000 people each year, like the popular First Thursdays, which offers free admission for all Bay Area residents.
Girls, Inc. of Alameda County: April 20: KGO's Jobina Fortson and Kumasi Aaron MC'd the Girls, Inc. of Alameda County's Strong, Smart & Bold Luncheon at Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the girls and of the organization's 65 years of history building toward equity and breaking down barriers so that youth in the community can safely imagine what they want for their futures.
SF Chronicle Live at Manny's: April 20: KGO's Drew Tuma was the featured panelist at SF Chronicle's "Understanding California's Wild Weather" discussion. Drew joined the Chronicle's new Weather Science Team for a fun-filled night of extreme weather and climate change conversation.
Junior Achievement of Northern California: April 21: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd Junior Achievement of Northern California's "Business Hall of Fame" luncheon to honor JA NorCal's Business Partners, Students, Volunteers of the Year and Educators of the Year for their impact on JA's mission to empower students toward greater economic success.
Friends of Children with Special Needs: April 22: KGO's Amanda del Castillo volunteered on the judging panel for the 9th Annual Special Needs Talent Showcase, the yearly celebration of music, performance and showmanship by children and adults with special needs. Friends of Children with Special Needs provides programs, services and family support for individuals with special needs.
Armenian Genocide Commemoration: April 23: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd the 108th Armenian Genocide Commemoration at San Francisco's Mount Davidson Cross. The event commemorates the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915 by the Ottoman Turks.
Academy of Art University: April 26: KGO's Mimi Kwan hosted broadcast journalism students from Academy of Art University for a tour of the newsroom and control room and a viewing of a live broadcast in studio.
Southeast Asian Development Center: April 28: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd Southeast Asian Development Center's 46th Anniversary Gala: A Celebration of Hope, Resilience and Transformation. SEADC works hard to transform and uplift thousands of youth and families with jobs, academic support, language services and cultural and social guidance. Clients include Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese families who work low-paying jobs, speak little English and still suffer from PTSD, 45 years after the end of the Vietnam War.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area: April 28: KGO's Kumasi Aaron and Dan Ashley MC'd the Big Futures Gala, Celebrating the Power and Promise of Youth. The event featured the "Bigs and Littles of the Year" and the stories they shared about how mentoring relationships changed their lives. More than $540,000 was raised to help kids realize their potential, one relationship at a time.
Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada: April 29: KGO's Amanda del Castillo MC'd the Alzheimer's Association's A Bright Night Gala, raising money to fund research and local care and support services. More than 650,000 Californians are living with Alzheimer's disease, and more than 1.6 million family and friends are providing care.
San Francisco Community Health Center: April 29: KGO's Reggie Aqui MC'd the Show of Hope, a gala and benefit concert for San Francisco Community Health Center, honoring Health Justice Champion Nancy Pelosi and Community Impact Award Honoree Cecilia Chung. Closing out the evening was headline performer Martha Wash. SF Community Health Center's wide array of medical, mental health, education and community services are designed to empower people in safe, respectful and supportive spaces.
Allies in Action: Wisa Uemura (May 2023): KGO spotlighted Wisa Uemura and San Jose Taiko for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The powerful sound of the taiko drum has been echoing through the streets of the Bay Area for 50 years, connecting communities and serving as a symbol of strength, resilience and cultural identity. Birthed in the heart of San Jose Japantown, the nonprofit performing arts company is dedicated to the development of the taiko art form, as well as educational programs. Watch the story here.
Girls Leadership: May 3: KGO's Lyanne Melendez MC'd "Power of Voice" celebration which supports the nonprofit, Girls Leadership. The event cheered on the impact of the evening's honorees and made sure every girl knows her power.
Committee of 100: May 5: KGO's Dion Lim joined KGO alum David Louie to MC the event, themed "Seeking Common Grounds in Turbulent Times." Committee of 100 is a non-partisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts.
Kids & Art Foundation : May 6: KGO's Kristen Sze MC'd the peninsula fundraiser for Kids & Art Foundation. The nonprofit uses the power of arts and creativity to mitigate stress, anxiety and trauma induced from the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer and other critical medical conditions.
Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center: May 12: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the Tel Hi Neighborhood Center's "Taste of Tel Hi," with an evening celebrating the Mayors of San Francisco. Funds raised support educational programs that provide kids the academic support they need to succeed and help them get their education back on track.
Lucasfilm Trivia Night: May 17: KGO's Kurt Stoneburner, Jocelyn Fiset, Dave Fortin and Zach Fuentes competed in the Lucasfilm Trivia Night fundraiser to benefit three local charities: SF-Marin Food Bank, Students Rising Above and Raphael House. Other KGO employees volunteered to help the evening's friendly competition run smoothly.
Farmworker Affairs Committee: Farmworker Public Summit May 20: KGO's Gloria Rodriguez MC'd the event, with leading discussion topics about issues like clean water, humane farm worker housing and healthcare.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: May 23: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd the Chamber's City Beat breakfast, with the goal to bring together Bay Area's top business and civic leaders to apply fresh thinking to today's greatest economic, political, environmental and humanitarian challenges.
Wilkinson Elementary School : May 26: KGO's Gloria Rodriguez spoke to young students on Wilkinson Career Day about her daily work schedule and some of the opportunities that are open to students. .
Allies in Action: Brooke Westling: June 2023: For Pride Month, KGO honored the work of Brooke Westling and The LGBT Asylum Project, which provides accessible legal representation to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. The life-saving work helps community members overcome past or potential persecution, trauma of unjust treatment and fight to obtain asylum. Co-founder Westling is dedicated to helping clients gain more than acceptance and love in the Bay Area - she helps them find family.
Allies in Action: Proud in Drag: June 2023: KGO's Reggie Aqui moderated a half-hour panel discussion during Pride Month featuring three of the Bay Area's popular and most honored drag queens: Sister Roma, D'Arcy Drollinger and Nicki J. Topics covered include recent attacks on drag performers, accolades, diversity, evolution and future of drag culture.
Equal Rights Advocates: June 9: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd the Equal Rights Advocates' Gala Luncheon, an annual celebration in the gender justice and civil rights movements, bringing together hundreds of advocates, business leaders, philanthropists and partners from across the country.
San Francisco Pride: June 21: KGO's Zach Fuentes emceed San Francisco Pride's annual Grand Marshal reception introducing local community leaders to the public.
San Francisco Pride: June 22: KGO's Ken Miguel joined a panel for SF Pride's first human rights summit, discussing the importance of corporate sponsorships and why they matter for SF Prides.
San Francisco Pride Parade: June 25: KGO was the exclusive, proud broadcast sponsor of the SF Pride Parade, which attracted an estimated 1M attendees. The parade was broadcast live, streamed and available to view online following the live broadcast. Reggie Aqui and Drew Tuma were joined by community hosts at the ABC7 set along the parade route. Jobina Fortson was the roving reporter. Zach Fuentes covered the festivities at Civic Center.
Job Forum: July 14th: Bradley Hoffman, HR Manager, participated on a panel assisting job seekers looking for careers in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Hip Wah's Summer Camp: July 14th: KGO's Kristen Sze hosted an educational field trip to the KGO News Studio for Oakland-based Hip Wah's summer camp.
AIDS Walk San Francisco: July 16: KGO's Dan Ashley hosted the Opening Ceremony for the annual AIDS Walk San Francisco at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Friends, families and neighbors came together to honor those who have passed, celebrate all we have accomplished and walk to support our shared mission.
During the Reporting Period, KGO also ran the following Priority Public Service Announcements:
Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month PSAs featuring KGO staff
American Red Cross Hurricane Relief: Call for Donations
AIDS Walk San Francisco
Bring Change to Mind
I Am A Voter
Partnership to End Addiction
Stand Up to Cancer
V Foundation
Alzheimer's Association
Native American Heritage Month
Starlight Children's Foundation
Ultimate Toy Drive: Toys for Tots
Walk to End Alzheimer's
Black History Month
First Book, Magic of Storytelling
Project Roadblock: drunk driving prevention
Starlight Foundation
Women's History Month
AIDS Walk San Francisco
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Charlotte Maxwell Clinic
Juneteenth events
Make A Wish
Professional Business Women of California
Rock the CASA concert
San Francisco Decorator Showcase
TV Roadblock
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences: Year Round: Paula Marcheschi, Creative Director serves on the NATAS Board of Governors and attends monthly board meetings, as well as providing additional peer and scholarship judging, educational programs, and enrichment events.
Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition: Year Round: Mimi Kwan, Vice President of Community Affairs serves as a Board Member of the Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition.
Allies in Action: Faline Howard (August 2022): KGO celebrates outstanding youth who volunteer and advocate for a better community. Girl Scout Faline Howard's deep admiration for monarchs motivated her to spearhead a movement tackling the butterfly's declining population, while promoting conservation and restoration. With every milkweed planted, Howard helps preserve monarch butterflies. Watch her story here.
San Francisco Unified School District: Teacher Externship: Beginning in July and continuing into August, SFUSD high school teacher E. Michael Chelsky spoke with KGO staff for his summer externship. Mr. Chelsky teaches Media Arts at Independence High School and requested to shadow KGO employees, newscasts and the workplace in order to better teach his students about the industry and the evolution of much needed skills.
Back to School Backpack Drive: July-August: KGO employees volunteered to purchase and fill 200 Disney backpacks to donate to several Boys and Girls Clubs chapters around the Bay Area in: Contra Costa, San Francisco, and the Peninsula.
Ascend National Convention: August 17: KGO's Dion Lim participated in the annual Ascend National Convention as MC of the Closing Gratitude Dinner and separately shared about her professional trajectory and her work shedding light on the rise of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic. Ascend is the largest Pan-Asian business professional membership organization in North America. This year's convention was attended by 2000 AAPI cross-industry professionals.
Palo Alto Festival of the Arts: August 27-28: KGO sponsored the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, the Bay Area's premier fine arts festival celebrating their 39th anniversary. Hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, this multifaceted arts celebration features 300 high quality artists, Italian street painting, two stages of entertainment, street corner concerts and a Kids' Art Studio.
Marin City 80th Celebration: August-September: KGO sponsored the Marin City 80th Celebration, commemorating the Black narrative and experience of a people who have endured incredible odds in the city of Marin. The celebration featured exhibits, a theatrical play, book release and a Labor Day event establishing The Marin City Historical and Preservation Society.
Allies in Action: Samantha Ramirez (September 2022): For Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, KGO honors Samantha Ramirez, Senior Program Coordinator of the Marin County Youth Commission. Samantha has made it her life's mission to always show up with heart and stand for justice. Named San Rafael's "Citizen of the Year," she leads with courage, kindness, and inclusivity to inspire the youth community throughout this month and always. Watch her story here.
Oasis for Girls: September 8: KGO's Luz Pena MC'd the Shine Gala, raising essential funds for Oasis for Girls, which partners with young women of color, ages 14-18, from under-resourced communities in San Francisco to cultivate the skills, knowledge, and confidence to discover their dreams and build strong futures.
Moraga Rotary Club: September 10: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd the Moraga Rotary Club's charity fashion show.
Chinese Historical & Cultural Project of Santa Clara County: September 17: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the 35th Anniversary of the Chinese Historical & Cultural Project Gala, titled "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future." CHCP is volunteer-driven and works to preserve and present Chinese American history and culture through museum exhibits and outreach programs, as well as engage with the past through oral histories of Chinese Americans.
Ronald McDonald House: September 19: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC's The Ronald McDonald House's annual fundraiser "Music on the Patio" in Menlo Park.
Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area: September 24: KGO's Kumasi Aaron MC'd the Bay Area Urban League's Empowerment Awards and Garden Soiree at the Oakland Museum of California. The event celebrated those who have sacrificed and worked tirelessly for Equity, Justice and Inclusion in our communities.
Center for Asian Pacific American Women: September 28: KGO's Dion Lim moderated a fireside chat at CAPAW's annual regional conference, an inspiring day of learning, networking and creating action for a better collective future for our community. Dion interviewed Dr. Catherine Choy, UC Berkeley Professor of Ethnic Studies and Associate Dean of DEI, Belonging and Justice, as well as author of "Asian American Histories of the United States."
Allies in Action: Andre Humphrey (October 2022): Bay Area nonprofit Inner City Bliss is driven by a single goal: bringing more BLISS into the world. Founder Andre Humphrey cultivates inner peace within the community through trauma-informed, holistic wellness practices that help with trauma recovery. Watch her story here.
Operation Save a Life: October: KGO partnered with Bay Area fire departments, The Home Depot and Kidde to raise awareness of fire and carbon monoxide dangers. Fire fighters are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors to hand out as they come across homes that need them. The campaign continued throughout the month with safety tips.
Dan Ashley's Friends of Camp Concord Golf Tournament: October 3: KGO's Dan Ashley hosted his annual fundraiser to help send under-privileged children to Camp Concord in Lake Tahoe. The sold-out tournament and dinner raised over $195,000 and surpassed their goal by 15%. Other nonprofit partners include Carson's Wings of Hope, First Tee Contra Costa, Darius Jones Foundation and A Brighter Day.
Commonwealth Club: October 4: KGO's Dan Ashley attended the Commonwealth Club Board of Governor's meeting.
Northwest University Alumni Association: October 7: KGO's David Louie was honored with the prestigious Northwestern Alumni Medal from his alma mater. To commemorate his 50th anniversary at KGO, he endowed a scholarship through the Radio Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) in 2022 for Medill School of Journalism students.
San Francisco Pride Pro-Am Golf Tournament: October 7-8: KGO's Drew Tuma MC'd the SF Pride Awards Reception on October 7, celebrating honorees who have expanded LGBTQ+ inclusion in the international world of golf and sport. KGO's Tracey Watkowski and Michel Camus participated in the next-day Golf Tournament fundraiser, the golf world's biggest LGBTQ+ event and first PGA-endorsed LGBTQ sporting event.
SF Fire Kidde: October 11: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd a fire safety and awareness event.
Circus Center Gala: October 15: KGO's Frances Dinglasan MC'd the Circus Center's Trailblazers Gala: Celebrating Women in Circus. The nonprofit was founded 39 years ago as the first modern circus school in America and made circus training accessible to everyone.
Syracuse University: Making Journalism Great Again: October 19: KGO's Julian Glover spoke on Syracuse University's "Making Journalism Great Again" panel discussion with several alumni from S.I. Newhouse School of Communication.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: October 20: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd SF Chamber of Commerce's WELL Conference, geared toward Women Empowering Leadership & Learning (WELL). The WELL program provides workplace resources, best practices and a broad community of support for attendees to advance gender equality and workplace inclusion within their own organizations.
Mission Economic Development Association: October 20: KGO's Luz Pena MC'd the 48th annual Viva MEDA Gala, an opportunity to reflect on robust programs, housing, and small business support. The event celebrated Latinx community moving forward together toward equitable recovery.
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO): October 21: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd APILO's 47th Anniversary Gala, working for equal justice in the immigrant community. The nonprofit provides culturally and linguistically competent legal and social services to its underserved communities.
Contra Costa County - Court Appointed Special Advocate Program: October 22: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd "Evening of Promise" a fundraising gala for the Contra Costa County Court Appointed Special Advocate program.
San Francisco Aquarium: October 24: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd "Blue Marble" the annual fundraising gala for the San Francisco Aquarium.
Harmony Walk: October 29: KGO's Julian Glover MC'd the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program's (GRIP) annual Harmony Walk. GRIP is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic coalition of congregations from varied faiths working together as a diverse and inclusive coalition to help those of our community in need to transition to self-sufficiency. GRIP has expanded to serve 15,000 homeless, hungry and low-income annually, including emergency shelter, housing for families, meals and basic needs.
Welcome Home Project: October 27: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd Welcome Home Project's annual breakfast fundraiser, helping homeless families transitioning into permanent housing. The project helps struggling families with brand new, basic goods that many of us take for granted when settling into the safety of a new home.
Commonwealth Club of California: Distinguished Citizen Award: October 28: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the Commonwealth Club's Distinguished Citizen Award, recognizing four outstanding community advocates who have served in longstanding leadership roles remedy injustice, ensure basic needs are met with dignity, provide equitable access to healthcare and medicine and demonstrate an abundance of benevolence and generosity of spirt..
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City: October 29: KGO's Amanda del Castillo MC'd the spooktacular experience, complete with trick or treating, pumpkin patch, photo booth, costume contest, live entertainment, face painting and a movie!
Walk to End Alzheimer's: October 29, November 3: KGO sponsored the Walk to End Alzheimer's two Bay Area locations. PSAs and newscast guest interviews promoted the events. KGO's Michael Finney MC the East Bay walk, while KGO's Reggie Aqui MC'd the San Francisco walk.
Allies in Action: Sara Moncada (November 2022): In honor of Native American Heritage Month, KGO spotlighted the CEO of The Cultural Conservancy, Sara Moncada. She is committed to revitalizing Indigenous agriculture and transcending non-nutritious food diets towards more healthy ways of living. Watch her story here.
Alzheimer's Association "Pop-Up Promise Garden": November 3: "ABC7 Memory Makers" walk team and supporters planted artificial flowers in a pop-up promise flower garden of hope for those who live with Alzheimer's and those who care for them. Currently, more than five million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050.
Oakland Symphony: November 5: KGO's Dan Ashley attended the Oakland Symphony's Board planning retreat.
Memorial Service - Richard Herron: November 6: KGO's Dan Ashley spoke at the memorial service for San Francisco/Oakland teacher and community leader Richard Herron.
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Volunteering: November 16: KGO volunteers helped at Alameda County Community Food Bank's pop up pantry at The Unity Council in Oakland. Disney supported our volunteer activity by unlocking a $10,000 grant for the food bank.
Franchise Fund Graduation: November 16: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd the graduation of the Franchise Fund's second cohort. The program is supported by the Golden State Warriors and is designed to support minority-owned Bay Area small businesses. It ensures that these business owners receive certification to get exposure, to help their communities and take advantage of future business opportunities.
Orinda Women's Club - "Festival of Trees": November 17: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd the Orinda Women's Club annual "Festival of Trees" charity fundraiser luncheon.
First Tee of Contra Costa County: November 20: KGO's Dan Ashley is a board member of First Tee of Contra Costa County and participated as a guest golf instructor.
Toys for Tots: Ultimate Toy Drive: November-December: KGO employees supported the Ultimate Toy Drive, on-air and in-person with toy collection boxes for new and unwrapped toys to gift to the San Bruno Toys for Tots unit.
Allies in Action: Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM) (December 2022): Music can change the world because it can change the person. Enriching Lives through
Music (ELM) is creating change by bringing musical education into the lives of children in San Rafael and even helping them get into college. Watch her story here.
"Our America: Lowballed" Community Screenings: December: In support of KGO's Julian Glover's special research-turned-documentary, KGO hosted two community screenings: the Community Premiere in Marin County at the Rafael Center, and a second screening in Oakland at The New Parkway. Both screenings were followed with Q&A with Julian and families who were featured in the program.
World AIDS Day: Dec 1: KGOs Reggie Aqui moderated a program honoring World AIDS Day with the National AIDS Memorial. The special conversation included Tyler TerMeer from SF AIDS Foundation, Diane Havlir from HIV/AIDS Division at UCSF, Scott Weiner, and LS Jones, Prevention Access Campaign Mississippi. The panel discussion proved to be reflective and informative.
Oakland Symphony: December 11: KGO's Dan Ashley MC'd a performance by the Oakland Symphony.
San Francisco Bay Times: December 13: KGO's Dan Ashley was a guest speaker at the San Francisco Bay Times holiday event.
Allies in Action: Vicky Lynn (January 2023): KGO recognized Victoria (Vicky) Ho Lynn, founder and president of Angels for Humans, Animals and Nature, for her devotion to educating the public on animal and environmental welfare. The work of Lynn and AHAN seeks to find animals their "forever home," even if it means across an ocean. Watch her story here.
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club: January 10: KGO's Dan Ashley presented to the members of the Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club an inside look at television news. He described experiences reporting from the front lines of many major stories, as well as his work as a prominent philanthropist and recording artist and rock and roll singer.
Rock for Shelter: January 21: KGO's Dan Ashley was the headline performer for Rock for Shelter, an evening of incredible music, fundraising and celebration in support of SHELTER, Inc.'s mission to prevent and end homelessness. Proceeds benefit Solano County-based services, including eviction prevention programs, housing at SHELTER Solano, a year-round shelter offering complete case management, rapid re-housing combined with supportive services, specialized programs for veterans, domestic violence survivors, disabled and re-entry populations, and permanent supporting housing in Vallejo.
Young Men's Service League: January 29: KGO's Sandhya Patel spoke at the Young Men's Service League's (YMSL) Crystal Springs Career Fair. Members of the nonprofit YMSL are moms and their teenage sons who volunteer together to serve local communities during their four years of high school.
Allies in Action: Brandon Nicholson (February 2023): In celebration of Black History Month, KGO spotlighted the CEO of The Hidden Genius Project, Brandon Nicholson. The community organization connects young Black males with the skills, mentors and experiences they need to become high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists. Watch the story here.
San Francisco Unified School District: February 7: KGO's Mimi Kwan hosted students from SFUSD's Independence High School's media production class. The group visited the station's control room and watched the newscast live in the studio. The group also learned about multimedia journalism with KGO Streaming Presenter/Producer Karina Nova.
Be the Match Donor Drive: February 14-16: KGO promoted the Be the Match Donor Drive at St. Mary's College of California and featured the "students as superheroes." The goal was to add more minority and multi-racial volunteers to the national bone marrow registry and help patients with blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases.
Black Joy Parade: February 26: KGO sponsored the 6th Annual Black Joy Parade in Oakland with promotion, live coverage on the 7.2 channel and 24-7 stream, and an edited re-broadcast on 7.1 the following weekend. KGO's Jobina Fortson, Julian Glover, and Kumasi Aaron hosted the parade coverage, celebrating community, culture and the Black experience. The parade saw more than 10,000 attendees, 96 Black-led contingent groups, 164 Black-owned vendors, 14 stage performances and 163 volunteers.
Allies in Action: Zara Babitzke (March 2023): For Women's History Month, KGO honored Zara Babitzke, founder of Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity Project (AHO). She says the Marin-based nonprofit is a calling of the heart, a safe place where at-risk young adults can find the support they need to overcome hardship and achieve their personal goals. Watch her story here.
Aragon High School Career Day: March 3: KGO's Kristen Sze was a Speaker at Aragon High School's Career Day.
Roots Fund Auction Gala: March 5: KGO's Kumasi Aaron volunteered as MC for The Roots Fund Auction Gala in New York City. Funds raised supports educational programs to nourish and enrich the lives of communities of color in the wine industry.
SFUSD Lincoln High School: March 10: KGO's Rick Rubin presented to the students of Abraham Lincoln High School's Digital Media Program. He took them through the history of KGO-TV and technology milestones, including the station's start in 1949 atop Mount Sutro. He compared the size of old gear to current multi-channel, digital and livestream capabilities and described the groundbreaking, social justice work of special programs like the award-winning Lowballed documentary.
San Mateo Union School District Career Expo: March 14: KGO's Mimi Kwan met with San Mateo Union High School District students and parents for the annual Career Expo. A cell phone camera, tripod, light, stick microphone and monitor were set up for an interactive activity. Students conducted mock interviews "on camera" and watched themselves on the monitor to review how they could improve their presentation skills.
Bay Area Furniture Bank: March 16: KGO sponsored the Design Heroes Charity Event, benefiting Bay Area Furniture Bank (BAFB). KGO's Casey Pratt volunteered as MC. BAFB works to address the homelessness crisis, including providing furniture and household items to the formerly unhoused.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: March 22: KGO's Tracey Watkowski and Kristen Sze spoke on the "Meet the Press" panel at the San Francisco Standard at an event benefitting Leadership San Francisco (LSF). LSF is a program with the SF Chamber of Commerce dedicated to educating and developing community trustees who will make a significant contribution to strengthen and transform our community.
ICA Cristo Rey Academy: March 23: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd ICA Cristo Rey Academy's annual business lunch, which supports the work study program that KGO participates. This innovative program helps students earn a portion of their education cost, gain job experience and connect the importance of classroom learning with real services to a business.
Injecting Hope Community Screening: March 23: KGO hosted a Community Screening of Tara Campbell's Injecting Hope documentary at the Tenderloin Museum, located in the heart of the San Francisco neighborhood facing similar challenges of the drug overdose crisis and those caught in addiction. Tara moderated a powerful panel Q&A with two San Francisco Supervisors and local community leaders about the program, community concerns and possible solutions. It was a full house with standing room only.
Family Connections Centers: March 24: KGO's Gloria Rodriguez shared the "Magic of Storytelling" with preschool children at the Family Connections Centers' Excelsior location. Family Connections serves 1900 people each year through early childhood education, family support services, summer and afterschool programs and basic needs assistance. 90% of participants are low-income, 70% are English language learners, 98% are people of color, and 2/3 were born outside of the U.S. KGO, through Disney and First Book, has donated 2500 books to help Family Connections share the love of literacy.
National Coalition of 100 Black Women: March 24: KGO's Kumasi Aaron MC'd the Oakland/Bay Area Chapter's 25th Annual Madam CJ Walker Luncheon and Empowerment Forum. The event celebrates the first African American self-made millionaire who was a pioneer in business and community and honors her legacy by recognizing Black women in the community for their outstanding accomplishments.
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Chinese Historical Society of America: March 25: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the Wong Kim Ark Day celebration, an event marking the 125th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark :: 169 U.S. 649 (1898) that the Constitutional guarantee that all persons born in the United States are citizens applied equally to Chinese Americans. The case is representative of Chinese American leadership in civil rights for all Americans.
Golden State Warriors Community Foundation: March 30th: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation impact report overview and anniversary celebration in Oakland at the new Generation Thrive headquarters.
Allies in Action: Ian Bain (April 2023): In celebration of Earth Month, KGO honored nonprofit Green Foothills and its board president Ian Bain. Since 1962, Green Foothills has served as a guardian for open spaces, farmlands and natural resources of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Bain shares more about the organization's ongoing advocacy and current campaigns to help Build a Better Bay Area. In partnership with Disney, KGO awarded Green Foothills with a $2000 grant to continue its good work. Watch her story here.
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology: April 5, 2023: KGO's Rick Rubin presented to the students of Galileo Academy of Science and Technology. He took them through the history of KGO-TV and technology milestones, including the station's start in 1949 atop Mount Sutro. He compared the size of old gear to current multi-channel, digital and livestream capabilities and described the groundbreaking, social justice work of special programs like the award-winning Lowballed documentary.
San Francisco State University: April 6: Kimmie Sakamoto, Executive Producer - Digital, was a guest speaker at San Francisco State University's broadcast journalism class.
Camp Okizu: April 14: KGO's Reggie Aqui and Stephanie Sierra MC'd the annual Art Inspiring Hope Gala, helping create a safe haven for children with cancer since 1982. Money raised helps send hundreds of kids to camp this year.
Rock the CASA: April 15: KGO's Dan Ashley produced, hosted and MC'd his annual Rock the CASA benefit concert, an evening of music for children in need. This year's headliner, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts raised important funds to support Court Appointed Special Advocates, Friends of Camp Concord, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys & Girls Club.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: April 19: KGO's Kumasi Aaron volunteered on the Host Committee of SFMOMA's annual Art Bash, the museum's most spectacular part of the year celebrating art and artists. The event supports SFMOMA's much-loved education and family programs and community engagement events that benefit 150,000 people each year, like the popular First Thursdays, which offers free admission for all Bay Area residents.
Girls, Inc. of Alameda County: April 20: KGO's Jobina Fortson and Kumasi Aaron MC'd the Girls, Inc. of Alameda County's Strong, Smart & Bold Luncheon at Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the girls and of the organization's 65 years of history building toward equity and breaking down barriers so that youth in the community can safely imagine what they want for their futures.
SF Chronicle Live at Manny's: April 20: KGO's Drew Tuma was the featured panelist at SF Chronicle's "Understanding California's Wild Weather" discussion. Drew joined the Chronicle's new Weather Science Team for a fun-filled night of extreme weather and climate change conversation.
Junior Achievement of Northern California: April 21: KGO's Jobina Fortson MC'd Junior Achievement of Northern California's "Business Hall of Fame" luncheon to honor JA NorCal's Business Partners, Students, Volunteers of the Year and Educators of the Year for their impact on JA's mission to empower students toward greater economic success.
Friends of Children with Special Needs: April 22: KGO's Amanda del Castillo volunteered on the judging panel for the 9th Annual Special Needs Talent Showcase, the yearly celebration of music, performance and showmanship by children and adults with special needs. Friends of Children with Special Needs provides programs, services and family support for individuals with special needs.
Armenian Genocide Commemoration: April 23: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd the 108th Armenian Genocide Commemoration at San Francisco's Mount Davidson Cross. The event commemorates the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915 by the Ottoman Turks.
Academy of Art University: April 26: KGO's Mimi Kwan hosted broadcast journalism students from Academy of Art University for a tour of the newsroom and control room and a viewing of a live broadcast in studio.
Southeast Asian Development Center: April 28: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd Southeast Asian Development Center's 46th Anniversary Gala: A Celebration of Hope, Resilience and Transformation. SEADC works hard to transform and uplift thousands of youth and families with jobs, academic support, language services and cultural and social guidance. Clients include Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese families who work low-paying jobs, speak little English and still suffer from PTSD, 45 years after the end of the Vietnam War.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area: April 28: KGO's Kumasi Aaron and Dan Ashley MC'd the Big Futures Gala, Celebrating the Power and Promise of Youth. The event featured the "Bigs and Littles of the Year" and the stories they shared about how mentoring relationships changed their lives. More than $540,000 was raised to help kids realize their potential, one relationship at a time.
Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada: April 29: KGO's Amanda del Castillo MC'd the Alzheimer's Association's A Bright Night Gala, raising money to fund research and local care and support services. More than 650,000 Californians are living with Alzheimer's disease, and more than 1.6 million family and friends are providing care.
San Francisco Community Health Center: April 29: KGO's Reggie Aqui MC'd the Show of Hope, a gala and benefit concert for San Francisco Community Health Center, honoring Health Justice Champion Nancy Pelosi and Community Impact Award Honoree Cecilia Chung. Closing out the evening was headline performer Martha Wash. SF Community Health Center's wide array of medical, mental health, education and community services are designed to empower people in safe, respectful and supportive spaces.
Allies in Action: Wisa Uemura (May 2023): KGO spotlighted Wisa Uemura and San Jose Taiko for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The powerful sound of the taiko drum has been echoing through the streets of the Bay Area for 50 years, connecting communities and serving as a symbol of strength, resilience and cultural identity. Birthed in the heart of San Jose Japantown, the nonprofit performing arts company is dedicated to the development of the taiko art form, as well as educational programs. Watch the story here.
Girls Leadership: May 3: KGO's Lyanne Melendez MC'd "Power of Voice" celebration which supports the nonprofit, Girls Leadership. The event cheered on the impact of the evening's honorees and made sure every girl knows her power.
Committee of 100: May 5: KGO's Dion Lim joined KGO alum David Louie to MC the event, themed "Seeking Common Grounds in Turbulent Times." Committee of 100 is a non-partisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts.
Kids & Art Foundation : May 6: KGO's Kristen Sze MC'd the peninsula fundraiser for Kids & Art Foundation. The nonprofit uses the power of arts and creativity to mitigate stress, anxiety and trauma induced from the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer and other critical medical conditions.
Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center: May 12: KGO's Dion Lim MC'd the Tel Hi Neighborhood Center's "Taste of Tel Hi," with an evening celebrating the Mayors of San Francisco. Funds raised support educational programs that provide kids the academic support they need to succeed and help them get their education back on track.
Lucasfilm Trivia Night: May 17: KGO's Kurt Stoneburner, Jocelyn Fiset, Dave Fortin and Zach Fuentes competed in the Lucasfilm Trivia Night fundraiser to benefit three local charities: SF-Marin Food Bank, Students Rising Above and Raphael House. Other KGO employees volunteered to help the evening's friendly competition run smoothly.
Farmworker Affairs Committee: Farmworker Public Summit May 20: KGO's Gloria Rodriguez MC'd the event, with leading discussion topics about issues like clean water, humane farm worker housing and healthcare.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: May 23: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd the Chamber's City Beat breakfast, with the goal to bring together Bay Area's top business and civic leaders to apply fresh thinking to today's greatest economic, political, environmental and humanitarian challenges.
Wilkinson Elementary School : May 26: KGO's Gloria Rodriguez spoke to young students on Wilkinson Career Day about her daily work schedule and some of the opportunities that are open to students. .
Allies in Action: Brooke Westling: June 2023: For Pride Month, KGO honored the work of Brooke Westling and The LGBT Asylum Project, which provides accessible legal representation to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. The life-saving work helps community members overcome past or potential persecution, trauma of unjust treatment and fight to obtain asylum. Co-founder Westling is dedicated to helping clients gain more than acceptance and love in the Bay Area - she helps them find family.
Allies in Action: Proud in Drag: June 2023: KGO's Reggie Aqui moderated a half-hour panel discussion during Pride Month featuring three of the Bay Area's popular and most honored drag queens: Sister Roma, D'Arcy Drollinger and Nicki J. Topics covered include recent attacks on drag performers, accolades, diversity, evolution and future of drag culture.
Equal Rights Advocates: June 9: KGO's Karina Nova MC'd the Equal Rights Advocates' Gala Luncheon, an annual celebration in the gender justice and civil rights movements, bringing together hundreds of advocates, business leaders, philanthropists and partners from across the country.
San Francisco Pride: June 21: KGO's Zach Fuentes emceed San Francisco Pride's annual Grand Marshal reception introducing local community leaders to the public.
San Francisco Pride: June 22: KGO's Ken Miguel joined a panel for SF Pride's first human rights summit, discussing the importance of corporate sponsorships and why they matter for SF Prides.
San Francisco Pride Parade: June 25: KGO was the exclusive, proud broadcast sponsor of the SF Pride Parade, which attracted an estimated 1M attendees. The parade was broadcast live, streamed and available to view online following the live broadcast. Reggie Aqui and Drew Tuma were joined by community hosts at the ABC7 set along the parade route. Jobina Fortson was the roving reporter. Zach Fuentes covered the festivities at Civic Center.
Job Forum: July 14th: Bradley Hoffman, HR Manager, participated on a panel assisting job seekers looking for careers in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Hip Wah's Summer Camp: July 14th: KGO's Kristen Sze hosted an educational field trip to the KGO News Studio for Oakland-based Hip Wah's summer camp.
AIDS Walk San Francisco: July 16: KGO's Dan Ashley hosted the Opening Ceremony for the annual AIDS Walk San Francisco at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Friends, families and neighbors came together to honor those who have passed, celebrate all we have accomplished and walk to support our shared mission.
During the Reporting Period, KGO also ran the following Priority Public Service Announcements:
Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month PSAs featuring KGO staff
American Red Cross Hurricane Relief: Call for Donations
AIDS Walk San Francisco
Bring Change to Mind
I Am A Voter
Partnership to End Addiction
Stand Up to Cancer
V Foundation
Alzheimer's Association
Native American Heritage Month
Starlight Children's Foundation
Ultimate Toy Drive: Toys for Tots
Walk to End Alzheimer's
Black History Month
First Book, Magic of Storytelling
Project Roadblock: drunk driving prevention
Starlight Foundation
Women's History Month
AIDS Walk San Francisco
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Charlotte Maxwell Clinic
Juneteenth events
Make A Wish
Professional Business Women of California
Rock the CASA concert
San Francisco Decorator Showcase
TV Roadblock
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