How is commitment to community, excellence, and public service celebrated at KPBS? How do we acknowledge and cherish those who help sustain our mission, year after year? The answer is the KPBS Hall of Fame.
The KPBS Hall of Fame honors the individuals and families who have made an impact on KPBS through their work, philanthropy, and leadership.
KPBS is proud to recognize Sandra Timmons and Rick Sandstrom, and Catherine Stiefel and Keith Behner as the 2018 Hall of Fame Visionary honorees. Each couple has made an incredible impact on KPBS’ ability to expand its mission. Their leadership and generosity inspires each of us to examine the value public media has in our lives and the lives of our neighbors, helping to create a vision of public media in today’s world.
Encinitas residents Sandra Timmons and Rick Sandstrom (above) have been involved with KPBS for more almost 40 years. Rick co-founded CYMER and served as senior vice president and chief technical advisor. Sandy has dedicated herself to the education of children and adolescents believing it is core to a healthy democracy. She has worked as a producer, writer and video consultant, and was formerly part of the KPBS production staff. In addition to being members of the KPBS Producers Club, Sandy and Rick have made major gifts to support science and technology reporting as well as the general fund.
“KPBS is a family,” says Sandra Timmons. “It’s been friendships. It’s been work. It’s an organization that we’re really proud to be a part of.”
Catherine Stiefel and Keith Behner (above) are passionate supporters of KPBS. Cathy is a retired C.P.A. with more than 20 years of business experience with SAIC, Deloitte & Touche, and Stiefel Laboratories. Keith is a retired city planner and land use planning consultant. The Point Loma couple holds degrees from San Diego State University and is active in many non-profit and charitable organizations like SDSU, San Diego Zoo, Barrio Logan College Institute, Nature & Culture International, and San Diego Coastkeeper. The are particularly involved in conservation and sustainable causes and have found KPBS’ coverage of the environment worthy of their support.
“We operate a charitable fund that supports three broad areas, education, environmental sustainability, and social justice,” says Keith Behner. “These are topics that KPBS covers very well indeed, so we really appreciate the job that KPBS and PBS do.”
About the KPBS Hall of Fame
Created in 2010, the KPBS Hall of Fame honors individuals and families who have made significant contributions to the station through their work, philanthropy, and leadership. Since its inception, more than 23 honorees have been have been recognized for their work, philanthropy, and leadership. Honorees are acknowledged in two possible categories: Lifetime Achievement and Visionary. Lifetime Achievement honorees are former staff whose work set new standards for public media. Past honorees include KPBS founder Ken Jones, former political correspondent Gloria Penner, and About San Diego host Ken Kramer. The Visionaries are generous supporters and leaders whose commitment helps KPBS advance its mission and service to the community. Past Visionary honorees include MASTERPIECE Trust donor Darlene Shiley, major donors to the KPBS Newsroom Joan and Irwin Jacobs, and past SDSU President Stephen Weber and Susan Weber.
Visit our photo gallery honoring all the Hall of Fame Inductees.
