The Pulitzer Center Celebrates Its First Decade, and Beyond

"The headline of our evening may be these stupendous new gifts, but the real story is the stories those gifts make possible. We've created an engine for journalism and public engagement that is very much worth sustaining. It's the legacy of the Pulitzer tradition in journalism, I believe—independence, fighting for justice, upholding democracy, a ceaseless quest to get better at what we do, journalism as a public good. That's on us, and on those inspired by the example of what each of us chooses to do."
— Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center, in remarks at the 10th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at the Harold Pratt House in New York.

The Pulitzer Center marked its first decade with the announcement of a $12 million endowment challenge grant from board chair Emily Rauh Pulitzer and a $1 million contribution toward that challenge from Katherine Moore, a board member who has also provided significant support for Campus Consortium partnerships at Westchester and LaGuardia community colleges in New York. The dinner featured talks by Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour, Kathy Im of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Gail Mellow, President of LaGuardia Community College, and our journalist grantee Jason Motlagh. Some of the Pulitzer Center staff, including Jon Sawyer, Nathalie Applewhite, Ann Peters and Kem Knapp Sawyer shared the different aspects of the work the Pulitzer Center supports and the engagement the Center has with students of all ages and the public. Remarks were also made by Pulitzer Center board members Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Joel Motley, and David Rohde.

A short highlights video—shot and produced by Evey Wilson, associate producer at the Pulitzer Center—captures a memorable night.

You can watch the videos of the speeches from the night straight through by clicking on the first link below—or jump to a specific segment.

-- Introduction by Joel Motley, Pulitzer Center Board Member
-- "Our Story" video animation on the Pulitzer Center model
-- Jon Sawyer (1), welcoming remarks by Jon Sawyer, Pulitzer Center Executive Director
-- Nathalie Applewhite, Pulitzer Center Managing Director
-- Kathy Im, director of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
-- Kem Sawyer, Pulitzer Center Contributing Editor
-- Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour
-- David Rohde, Thomson Reuters journalist
-- Jason Motlagh, Pulitzer Center grantee
-- Ann Peters, Pulitzer Center Director of Development and Outreach
-- Gail Mellow, President of LaGuardia COmmunity College
-- Jon Sawyer (2), toast to Emily Rauh Pulitzer and Katherine Moore
-- Emily Rauh Pulitzer
-- Jon Sawyer (3), concluding remarks