Leslie Fields-Cruz speaking at PitchBLACK 2024. Credit: Ed Marshall Photography NYC

The Road to $50 Million

by Leslie Fields-Cruz

I’m not gonna lie. When I heard the Harris campaign was able to raise nearly $50 million within the first 24 hours after President Biden’s announcement last Sunday, I was envious. I would gladly spend a whole day on the phone if I knew it would net $50 million. Imagine how many Black stories we could amplify with that amount of money. Alas, I’m not running for president of the United States. But I am asking you to make a donation to BPM.

Click here to watch Peabody acceptance speech. (Left-right) Eboni Johnson-Kaba, Rosalynde Leblanc, Tom Hurwitz, Leslie Fields-Cruz, and Chris Hastings. Credit: TonyLoweImages

Your contributions, of any size, are what enable me and my colleagues to continue pursuing a future where Black stories are ubiquitous in public media. We’re not there yet, but just this year BPM content won a Peabody (our 10th) and another Anthem Award (our third consecutive). Such recognition not only attracts new audiences and greater distribution, it encourages our storytellers to be bold and dream big.

Your Gifts Make it Happen

Andrea Walls accepts her 2024 PitchBLACK Award. Credit: Ed Marshall Photography NYC

BPM awarded more than $600,000 in production funding and fellowships during PitchBLACK this year. We’ve also hosted more than a dozen makers through our fellowship and bootcamp programs. Our grantees and fellows are working on projects that feature people from as nearby as Philadelphia and Texas, and as far away as Puerto Rico and the Republic of Cameroon.

These stories will reach audiences through traditional film as well as via immersive media. We’re able to create these opportunities because people like you contribute and inspire others to give to this amazing organization. Each individual gift then prompts larger contributions from our foundation and corporate partners.

We’re living in dynamic times. There are SO many incredible Black stories out there just waiting to be told. BPM is committed to giving media makers the support they need to collect and turn these stories into projects that will inform, educate and entertain for generations. We’ve yet to raise $50 million in 24 hours. But we are making progress. Be a part of our story. Click below and give today.

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— Fields-Cruz is the executive director of Black Public Media