For broadcasters facing hardship, the Broadcasters Foundation of America is a financial lifeline built by and for the industry. If you know a colleague struggling with the costs of a serious illness, a natural disaster, family caregiving needs, or college tuition, BFOA is here to help and getting them connected could make all the difference.

BFOA supports the broadcasting community through four core programs:

• Medical Aid: Monthly Grants for broadcasters unable to work due to a critical illness or family medical crisis
• Disaster Relief: Emergency Grants for colleagues recovering from a natural disaster or personal emergency
• Academic Programs: Scholarship and Internship opportunities that mentor and invest in the next generation of broadcasters
• Community Outreach: Events held across the country celebrating the strength of our broadcasting community

Many broadcasters facing hardship don't reach out on their own, often out of pride, uncertainty about where to turn, or simply not knowing help exists. That's where you come in. If you know someone in our industry who's struggling, take a moment to share BFOA's resources with them. A quick conversation, a forwarded email, or a shared link could be the first step toward real relief for a colleague in need.

Your BFOA is the only foundation sustained by the generosity of the broadcasting industry, for the broadcasting industry. Tune in, reach out, and learn more at www.broadcastersfoundation.org or by calling 212-373-8250, or email info@thebfoa.org.

Each year, the Broadcasters Foundation of America reviews every grant in its annual Grant Update. As 2027 grant notifications went out, thank-you notes poured in from across the country, from a sales assistant in Texas to a production director in Wisconsin. Here are a few of their words:

“You’ll never know how much this basically saves me and my home. Truly… I’m incredibly and endlessly grateful, and I hope to be in a position to pay it back at some point in the future.”
- Researcher, Loveland, CO

“I would not be here today, literally, without all you have done for me. For the rest of my life, I will be thankful that you gave me this opportunity.”
- Traffic Reporter, Chicago, IL

“I am in tears reading this message. I do not have the words to tell you how much my family and I appreciate this. We have all been through so much, and every bit helps beyond measure.”
- Revenue Manager, Atlanta, GA

If you know a colleague facing hardship, please share BFOA’s resources with them. Help is here for broadcasters in their hardest moments. Visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org to learn more.

As part of our internship program and ongoing development of future broadcasters, and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, our intern, Julia Murphy (Hofstra University, Class of 2028), spent some time with Violeta Yas, Emmy Award-winning, bilingual meteorologist for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47. Violeta and Julia discussed career growth, Weather Kids, the importance of accessible news, and the impact of the BFOA.

Julia Murphy (JM): Walk us through your journey in pursuing and now succeeding in the broadcast industry.

Violeta Yas (VY): I’ve always known since I was young that I wanted to be in a people-oriented field, I am a bit of a chatty Kathy. My passion for weather developed in a non-traditional way, after seeing how much of a need there was for better weather communication in Spanish. 

I studied journalism and meteorology later. I was offered a role as a bilingual weather broadcaster. Preparing for that role was intimidating not having a formal science background - I had in-depth training from expert meteorologists to get me ready for air.   In preparing for that role, I noticed a massive disparity in what was available in English versus in Spanish. My passion for weather grew from there.

JM: How has your work with NBCU and Telemundo enhanced your passion for broadcasting?

VY: When I first joined the company (NBCU) it was to launch Telemundo's 1st Spanish language newscast in Philadelphia. It was a unique and exciting experience, building a station from the ground up! The people were amazing to work with, and I think we set the bar for this community that was being underserved. Being able to do this work that I love in my native language is very fulfilling. 

JM: Tell us about Weather Kids. What motivated you to give back to the community in such a unique and impactful way?

VY: Weather Kids is the best! Going as far back as high school, I have always been someone that wants to be involved. I was in every club; I was on every committee. Then, as a professional, it always felt very important to stay connected to the youth in our community. Luckily, here in New York, we have the Weather Kids program. The weather team gets to visit schools all around the tri-state area.

We teach students about weather, climate, and meteorology as a profession. The kids get so fired up! We do very fun demonstrations and because it’s supplemental to the classroom, the response is always phenomenal. It became very clear to me that these kids, especially in these big cities, tend to feel validated by seeing people who either look like them or come from the same circumstances.  I'm very reflective of the community we have here, and the kids can really sense that authenticity. 

JM: What advice would you give your younger self as you navigate through the industry?

VY: To enjoy the process a little bit more. It’s good to think ahead and feel ahead of the curve but enjoy the process because it’s all going to work out just as you envision.

To my college self, I wish I had better utilized my resources in college. My parents didn’t attend college here in the U.S., so in many ways we were learning the process together. I was so busy with classes and internships, I wish I had leaned a bit more on some of the student organizations. I feel like a very recurring theme in my career is going back to the places that I used to frequent and trying to offer what I wish I had at that time. 

JM: BFOA is grateful for your continued support. Why do you feel that now more than ever it is important to support the BFOA mission?

VY: Any one of our dedicated colleagues could face financial hardship or a health crisis that forces them into impossible decisions. The BFOA is always here for our colleagues when they need it most, so it’s important we offer support to these resources for our industry.