Bob and Susan Wright have given the Palm Beach Civic Association $1 million to finance a new segment on the organization’s award-winning Palm Beach TV.
Bob Wright is chairman emeritus of the Civic Association and the former chairman and CEO of NBC Universal. Susan Wright is co-chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee and a director since 2020. The couple live in the North End.
Mary Robosson, CEO of the Civic Association, announced the Wrights’ legacy gift at the non-profit organization’s annual Director’s Reception and Luncheon Wednesday, November 19, at Club Colette.
The $1 million is financing the launch of the PBTV news segment The Wright News Follow the Story which will keep a close eye on news stories as they continue to unfold.
Robosson said The Wright News Follow the Story strengthens the Civic Association’s communications output, which was created under Wright’s guidance while he was chairman of the organization from 2010 until 2023.
Palm Beach TV weekly newscasts and Studio 33480 in-depth interviews are made possible through sponsorship by the Fortin Foundation of Florida.
“The Wright News will allow us to enhance our coverage with special features within PBTV sponsored by the Fortin Foundation,” Robosson said.
Palm Beach TV, Studio 33480, Our Town and Breaking News articles, and The Civic newsletter are produced by the Civic Association’s communications team and emailed to more than 5,000 subscribers. More than 10,000 people follow the videos and articles on social media platforms.
“You are looking at a visionary leader in Bob Wright and Susan Wright and what they have brought to the Civic Association,” Robosson said.
Early examples of The Wright News Follow the Story segments include updates on townwide utility undergrounding, town efforts to prevent the illegal mooring of boats in Palm Beach’s jurisdictional waters and plans to renovate the historic Paramount Theatre building.
Civic Association Chairman Michael Pucillo said the organization is extraordinarily grateful to the Wrights.
“This gift is truly a great capstone on his legacy with the Civic Association, and its impact will be huge because it will allow us going forward to continue to report the news, to do it in the same critical way we’ve done it for many years, but in a new light, in a new dimension,” Pucillo said.
Bob Wright is a former president and CEO of NBC and was chairman and CEO of NBC Universal until 2007. He retired as vice chairman of General Electric in 2008. He was named chairman emeritus of the Civic Association upon his retirement in 2013 after 13 transformative years at the helm of the organization.
Bob Wright said he and Susan are honored to make this gift.
“Our hope is that it will have a lasting impact in providing valuable and informative information to our community,” he said.
Susan Wright credited her husband for having the forethought that made Palm Beach TV and The Wright News Follow the Story possible.
“Over a decade ago, Bob had the vision and foresight of a Palm Beach news station that would provide up-to-date information on what was happening on our island,” she said. “We are very grateful to help continue that vision with The Wright News Follow the Story.”
David Duffy, a member of the Civic Association’s Executive Committee and co-chairman of its Communications Committee, said The Wright News Follow the Story is a major asset for Palm Beach TV.
“Anything with the ‘Wright’ name on it is great communications,” said Duffy, a Civic Association chairman since 2013 who also chairs its Public Safety Committee.
Michael Ainslie, treasurer of the Civic Association and a member of its Executive Committee, said Bob Wright has been an innovator of news delivery at NBC and throughout his tenure with the Civic Association.
“It really pays off,” said Ainslie, a director since 2000. “It informs our community and gets people more involved.”
Robosson thanked the Fortin Foundation of Florida and its president, Lesly S. Smith, for its sponsorship of Palm Beach TV since its inception in 2019 and sponsorship of Studio 33480 since 2023. Smith has been a Civic Association director since 2020.
Goodman gift
There was more good news for Palm Beach TV viewers at Wednesday’s luncheon. Robosson announced that Judy Goodman is sponsoring PBTV’s Health Education Series for the next five years.
Goodman is a member of the Civic Association’s Executive Committee, chairman of its Health Care Committee and a director since 2007.
The Health Education Series is co-produced by Health Care Committee volunteers and PBTV’s communications team and features interviews with physicians and health care experts about topics that shape human health and well-being.
Health education productions during the last two seasons focused on understanding dementia and recognizing the signs of stroke and heart disease. This season, the series will spotlight nutrition, including the science behind dietary recommendations, vitamins and supplements.
Robosson said, “Judy, we extend our gratitude to you for what you are bringing to our community.”
Goodman said she has lifelong ties to the health care profession. Her late husband was a physician, and she was an attorney specializing in health care for more than 20 years.
Health Care Committee volunteers spend hours on the development of high-quality videos about health care needs tailored to the local community, she said.
“My gift is intended to make sure there is a library archive of the health education series produced and kept online for at least the next five years,” Goodman said.
Pucillo said the work being done by the Health Care Committee is of an extraordinarily high quality.
“It is one of our most active, most effective committees, and it’s all because of Judy’s leadership,” he said.
The directors’ reception and luncheon was sponsored by Glazer Hall, the new performing arts center scheduled to open this season in the Royal Poinciana Playhouse building.
Glazer Hall was co-founded and is co-chaired by Avie Glazer and Jill Glazer, a Civic Association director since 2023.
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