We are thrilled to share some fantastic news with all of you! The Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation has again made a generous donation to our charity, the Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program (MIBTP) for 2025! This incredible contribution will significantly impact our mission to create opportunities for aspiring broadcasters who have faced challenges in entering the broadcast journalism industry.
The Hobson Lucas Family Foundation (also known as the George Lucas Family Foundation) is the private grantmaking foundation of Ariel Investments president Mellody Hobson and her husband, film writer and director George Lucas.
In 1991, Geroge Lucas began his philanthropic career with the George Lucas Educational Foundation to invest in universities and low-income education programs. Years later, he founded the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation to donate to a wider array of groups. Both Hobson and Lucas are major Democratic donors.
In July 2021, Inside Philanthropy listed Hobson and Lucas as two of the 100 “most powerful players in philanthropy.”
Founded in 1992, MIBTP has been dedicated to providing hands-on training for college graduates in various fields of television and radio, including news reporting, sports and weather reporting, news management, and TV production. Our program is uniquely designed to support individuals who have encountered substantial barriers to entering broadcast careers. Thanks to the generosity of donors like the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, we can continue to open doors for talented individuals and help them achieve their dreams in broadcasting.
Our trainees benefit from immersive experiences at small-to-medium-sized market television stations, where they develop crucial skills in writing, editing, producing, and reporting. By the end of the program, each participant gains a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of television and radio news broadcasting or production. This year-long, hands-on training prepares our graduates to take the next big step in their careers with confidence and expertise.
We cannot express enough gratitude to the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation for their support. Their belief in our mission and commitment to fostering diversity in broadcasting ensures that more voices will be heard and more stories will be told. Thank you for helping us make a lasting difference in the lives of our trainees and the broadcasting industry as a whole.