Blue Ridge Public Radio has appointed Ashleigh Kenny as its Development Director, a new position at the NPR affiliate, and a reflection of the continuing growth and success of BPR in Western North Carolina. She has an extensive background in non-profit media in various stages of growth and transition.
For the past six years, Ms. Kenny has led fundraising at YR Media (formerly Youth Radio), an independent media organization based in Oakland, CA, with deep roots in the public radio landscape nationwide. At YR Media she has been instrumental in helping the organization experience significant budget increase - from $4-million to $7.5-million annually - along with its multi-million dollar growth campaign.
According to Ms. Kenny, “I am excited to join the creative, intellectual, and socially engaged staff at BPR and the community it serves. My experience at YR Media, working with young people who are building the platform they want to speak from, has inspired me to keep my ear to the ground and tap into the resources that empower communities to speak, to listen to one another, and to support their visions of what's possible.”
BPR General Manager and CEO David Feingold commented, “Ashleigh Kenny is passionate about independent media as a community builder and a venue for empathy and creativity. She and her team will make a very important contribution to BPR’s exciting future.”
In this newly created role at Blue Ridge Public Radio, Ms. Kenny will lead an expanded development department which is responsible for BPR membership and annual giving, major and planned gifts, and its future capital campaign.
Said Ms. Kenny, “Blue Ridge Public Radio is at a critical moment in its growth, with so much momentum and opportunity. I hope to help support the continued growth of a broadcast/digital/and face-to-face public square that reflects and amplifies the voices of the WNC region.”
Ashleigh Kenny joins the BPR staff on February 25. Please join BPR in welcoming Ashleigh to the BPR family.
