September/October 2025
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, PAUL GROVE
You may have heard that WEDU PBS has lost a significant portion of its funding — an unprecedented $2.8 million in state and federal support, amounting to nearly 20% of our operating budget. This represents the most serious financial challenge in our history. And yet, even in the face of these challenges, your continued support gives us strength.
As we head into a new season, we want to thank you for the support you showed during a lively and meaningful summer. Your generosity fuels everything WEDU does, and this fall brings even more to explore.
From the powerful stories honored at the Hispanic Heritage Awards to the compelling new season of POV, featuring powerful documentaries that spotlight the fight for truth, justice and survival around the globe, WEDU continues to deliver content that informs, reflects and uplifts West Central Florida.
Be sure to catch a trio of captivating dramas from MASTERPIECE, along with community events and local programming throughout the season. And as October marks National Estate Planning Awareness Month, it’s a meaningful time to consider how your legacy can help sustain this work for generations to come.
This is a critical time for your support. With your help, we bring trusted journalism, unique voices and local storytelling to life every day. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission.
The Marlow Murder Club
MASTERPIECE Mysteries
Did you catch the Season 2 premiere of The Marlow Murder Club? Sleuthing trio Judith, Suzie and Becks return as crime once again disturbs their peaceful village. Full of charm and suspense, the show finds the women’s wit and friendship shining through as they chase down new clues. The second season of The Marlow Murder Club premiered Sunday, August 24, at 8 p.m.
The mystery continues with a gripping night of double premieres. First, Maigret introduces a brilliant but unconventional young detective solving serious crimes across Paris. A rising star of La Crim, Jules Maigret is relentless in his pursuit of justice and unwavering in his devotion to his wife. Premieres Sunday, October 5, at 9 p.m.
Then, The Gold tells the true story of the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery, one of Britain’s most notorious heists. When £26 million in gold bullion disappears, investigators uncover a high-stakes world of crime and corruption that shakes Britain to its core. Premieres Sunday, October 5, at 10 p.m.
Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
Sacred Planet
Sacred Planet is a stunning four-part global journey presented by journalist and TED climate editor Gulnaz Khan. Filmed across Africa, Asia and the Americas, this cinematic series explores how climate change is threatening some of the world’s most sacred places.
Through breathtaking visuals and personal storytelling, it reveals how faith leaders, elders and local communities are drawing on traditional knowledge to protect these lands and their people. From remote landscapes to diverse ecosystems and time-honored wisdom, Sacred Planet is both a wake-up call and a celebration of resilience, reverence and the deep connection between people and planet.
Premieres Wednesday, September 10, at 10 p.m. Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
Sacred Planet
American Masters: Orozco: Man of Fire
Art Without Borders
Discover the powerful legacy of José Clemente Orozco in American Masters: Orozco: Man of Fire.
A pioneer of the Mexican Renaissance and contemporary of Diego Rivera, Orozco brought bold murals and an uncompromising vision to both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. His dramatic works inspired American artists and shaped federal art programs during the Great Depression. Despite losing his left hand to a fireworks accident and much of his early artwork to U.S. border agents, Orozco’s story endures in masterworks like Prometheus and The Epic of American Civilization. His journey reflects the enduring strength of the migrant experience and artistic defiance.
Airs Tuesday, September 23, at 9 p.m. Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
Celebrating Latino Pride
Join us for the 38th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, nationally broadcast on PBS and recognized as one of the highest honors by Latinos for Latinos. Established by the White House in 1988, the HHAs celebrate vision, cultural pride and Latino excellence across business, STEM, education, the arts and more.
Held at Washington, D.C.’s Warner Theater, the evening features powerful performances and moving tributes honoring this year’s class of trailblazers. Past honorees include legends like Rita Moreno, Gloria Estefan, Sonia Sotomayor and Juan Luis Guerra.
More than a ceremony, the HHAs are a tribute to the past, present and future of the Hispanic community in America. Tune in to be inspired by the stories, pride and promise of a vibrant legacy in motion.
The 38th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards airs Friday, September 26, at 9 p.m. Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
Weather Hunters
Unraveling Weather Mysteries
PBS KIDS and Emmy-winning weatherman Al Roker present Weather Hunters, a new animated series for kids ages 5-8 premiering this September. Combining adventure, comedy and Earth science, the show follows Lily Hunter, a young weather detective, and her family. Together, they solve weather mysteries and inspire environmental stewardship.
With vibrant animation and engaging storytelling, Weather Hunters introduces STEM concepts and climate awareness, from tracking weather patterns to understanding weather’s impact on communities. Available in English and Spanish, with digital content to enhance learning, it’s a whirlwind of fun and discovery!
Premieres Monday, September 8, at 7:30 a.m. on PBS KIDS in English and Spanish. Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
Return to the Wild
The thrill continues in Season 2 of NATURE: Big Cats 24/7 as viewers return to Botswana’s wild Okavango Delta. This time, local and international filmmakers revisit the unforgettable lions, leopards and cheetahs of Season 1 plus some captivating new faces.
Using cutting-edge technology, the team documents these predators’ days and nights, capturing powerful stories of family, survival and rivalry. From stealthy hunts to tender cub moments, get an even deeper look into the lives of Africa’s fiercest felines in one of the most biodiverse landscapes on Earth.
Premieres Wednesday, September 10, at 8 p.m. Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
NATURE: Big Cats 24/7
Truth, Justice and Resistance
Experience three powerful documentaries in the new season of POV. In The Age of Water, two mothers in rural Mexico partner with a scientist after their children die of leukemia, and uncover radioactive contamination, only to face government denial. Airs Monday, September 8, at 11 p.m.
The Bitter Pill follows attorney Paul Farrell Jr. as he sues Big Pharma to confront the opioid crisis devastating his West Virginia hometown, sparking the largest civil litigation in U.S. history. Airs Monday, September 22, at 11 p.m.
In Porcelain War, three artists in Ukraine turn to paint and protest while defending their country with cameras and courage. Airs Monday, September 29, at 11 p.m.
These true stories show the fight for truth, justice and survival around the globe.
Watch live or stream with the PBS app.
Create Your Legacy
October 20–26 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week.
Take a few simple steps now to protect your health choices, care for loved ones, and leave a legacy with support for causes like WEDU. Peace of mind starts today.
Every contribution makes a difference.
There is a variety of opportunities to donate and help support the programming you love by considering creative non-cash gifts such as:
IRA Charitable Rollover
Individuals who have reached age 73 can donate up to $105,000 to WEDU PBS directly from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA), without treating the distribution as taxable income. Giving from your IRA is a great way to satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) tax-free and support WEDU PBS’s mission to serve the public good and to aid in the creation of an informed citizenry. Talk to your financial or tax advisor about rolling 401(k) monies into an IRA to make a tax-free charitable contribution to WEDU PBS.
Stocks, bonds and mutual funds
Donating stock or mutual funds you have held longer than one year and which have appreciated in value directly to WEDU is a savvy giving strategy to avoid capital gains taxes. Consult with your financial advisor to help leverage your gift for the best tax savings. Remember, sometimes it might be more tax advantageous to sell depreciated stock and give a gift of cash to WEDU PBS with the proceeds — a double tax savings!
Donate your car, motorcycle, boat, RV, kayak or even real estate!
We make donating your vehicle or other mode of transportation simple and convenient with fast pickup and streamlined paperwork. You benefit by possibly being able to reduce your taxable income. Plus, you avoid paying for advertising, loss of privacy and possible security risk. In addition, there is no need to pay for registrations, insurance and repairs to keep your transportation in working condition.
Please contact us for easy gifting of real estate that may have become a burden to own or insure. For more information:
CALL: (813) 739-2959
EMAIL: [email protected]
VISIT: wedugiving.org
