CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – February 19, 2010 – WTCI has been named the 2010 Nonprofit of the Year by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, an award that recognizes outstanding community impact and leadership in the nonprofit sector. WTCI was honored during the Small Business Awards Luncheon on February 17, an annual event celebrating small business and entrepreneurial excellence in Chattanooga. Other award finalists in the nonprofit category included the Friends of the Chattanooga Zoo and the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Chattanooga.

"The Chamber is pleased to recognize Chattanooga’s small business and nonprofit communities every year with our Small Business Awards," said Tom Edd Wilson, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. "The organizations we salute are essential to the vitality of our local economy and play a significant role in the enjoyment people take in living in this community. I am pleased to take this opportunity to congratulate Paul Grove and his staff at WTCI-TV for winning the Chamber’s nonprofit of the year award for 2010. From its quality children’s programming to insightful news analyses to magnificent fine arts productions, the station educates and entertains us and enriches our lives."

As the PBS station for the Chattanooga region, WTCI has offered quality, award-winning programming to the community for 40 years, reaching 850,000 people in a four-state, 35-county viewing area.

"WTCI is honored to be given this distinctive award," said Paul Grove, WTCI President & CEO. "It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, board and volunteers to extend the impact of the station into the community in so many significant ways."

Moving into a new broadcast center in 2007, WTCI has transformed its role in the community by expanding local productions and outreach work. WTCI produces four local series and has produced more than a dozen documentaries with topics including World War II heroes, the Trail of Tears, the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Antiques Roadshow Chattanooga and the Riverbend Festival. WTCI supports local education by providing free literacy workshops, distributing books to children, offering an annual writing contest and working with area schools on book drives and PBS character visits.

"For 40 years, WTCI has been an essential part of the community," said Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield. "From education programming to informative documentaries, WTCI is an asset and most worthy of the Non-Profit of the Year Award.  Congratulations."

WTCI hopes to strengthen its role in serving all local nonprofits through the new Be More Awards™ which recognize the impact and unsung heroes of area nonprofits and volunteer leaders.

“How appropriate the co-founders of the 'Be More Awards' dedicated to excellence should themselves be recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce," said Claude Ramsey, Hamilton County Mayor. "WTCI’s commitment to alternative programming benefiting our region is enjoyed and appreciated not only by myself and my family, but thousands of viewers across the Tennessee Valley. Congratulations to Paul Grove, and the entire WTCI staff, for this well deserved honor and your successful inaugural 'Be More Awards'.”

About WTCI

WTCI, PBS for the Tennessee Valley, has been helping the community “Be more connected” for nearly 40 years by encouraging our viewers to engage more deeply in the world around them. WTCI was recently named the 2010 Nonprofit of the Year by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, a testament to the dedication of our staff, board of directors, and volunteers. WTCI reaches over 312,000 households and serves a total population of over 850,000 in a four-state, 35-county viewing area. Through quality programming and educational outreach services, WTCI can help you “Be More!”.