Boise State Public Radio announces The Endowment For Local News, dedicated to the media organization’s role as a leader in local, state and regional news. A gift from the estate of Charles and Lorraine Childers led to this creation of the station’s first endowment, which it intends to grow with future legacy gifts.
This year the station received an unrestricted gift of $1.1 million from the Childers’ estate, the largest gift ever granted to Boise State Public Radio. The majority of that gift, totaling $750,000, will be used in the creation of an endowment, a lasting investment in the future of public radio news in Idaho. Boise State Public Radio takes seriously its role as a center for civic discussions and as an independent news source. This endowment ensures that its public radio values, and the spirit of its loyal members, will have a home for years to come.
“Boise State Public Radio has been around for more than 40 years,” said general manager Tom Michael. “With the launch of this long-term investment, we intend to be here for many decades more. It’s a testament to our family of donors, past and present, who are helping us build a lasting legacy in this community.”
Charles Childers grew up on a farm in Caldwell, Idaho, and received an engineering degree at the University of California, Berkeley. Following his service in the Army during the Korean War, he returned to Idaho and worked as an engineer for Idaho Power his entire career. Lorraine was born in South Dakota and graduated from Kaiser Foundation School of Nursing in Oakland before embarking on a career as a nurse in Idaho. Charles outlived Lorraine, who died in 2015, passing away in July 2019 at age 90.
Throughout their lifetimes, the Childers' were consistent listeners and members of Boise State Public Radio, but with a modest giving history totaling $500 across the decades. At the end of his life, Charles created a will and named several charities in his estate. Their million-dollar gift was a surprise to the station.
Charles was a conservative spender and savvy investor, and the Endowment for Local News is the organization’s way of honoring the family’s legacy.
The station is encouraging its donors to expand this endowment through future gifts, with the Legacy Society.
