DOROTHY E. BRUNSON
The First African American Woman in the Nation to Own a Radio & TV Station
Welcome to the home of the Dorothy E. Brunson Foundation. The Foundation of Dorothy E. Brunson was formed to honor the work of Dorothy E. Brunson, the first African Woman in The Nation to own a Radio and TV Station. “Working Woman” described Ms. Brunson as “one of radio’s great innovators.”
Through the years, Ms. Brunson’s success was chronicled in Time Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. She enjoyed mentoring young businesswomen and served as a consultant to various businesses. The Dorothy E. Brunson Foundation will continue her work and legacy through our mission.
OUR MISSION
Support and Promote Achievement of the Disenfranchised and Women in STEM, Business, and Media through Scholarship, Training, Networking, and Philanthropy.
Ways You Can Get Involved & Contribute to the Mission
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
What I know for sure is that what you give comes back to you.
Oprah Winfrey
KEEPING HER LEGACY ALIVE
WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE?
Dorothy E. Brunson dedicated her life to serving in missions across the world.
She also inspired generations by being the first to open doors with her tremendous contributions in media.
Our goal is to get a wax figure placed in the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.
VOLUNTEER & PARTICIPATE
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
We are always looking for trustworthy, skilled, kind, proactive volunteers who want to help our mission.
Let us know how you can contribute or the way you might help. Here are a few ways:
Spread the word through social media
Join our email list to stay updated
Design, print, and hand out flyers
Volunteer at our events
MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS
ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP?
Our ongoing mission is to create educational opportunities by offering Adult Educational Programs and Scholarships for Students.
"Tap In" Media Scholarship is made possible through individual donations and corporate sponsorships.
Your financial support can make a difference for a young person struggling to afford a college education.
Please Consider Donating Today!
LEGACY
Our goal is to have a wax figure placed in the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.
VOLUNTEER
Let us know how you can contribute or any way you might help.
SCHOLARSHIP
Your financial support can make a help with college education.
Start your recurring gift today to make an impact all year long.
Your monthly commitment to The Dorothy E. Brunson Foundation ensures college scholarships and access to mentors, which keeps the legacy of Dorothy E. Brunson alive.
DISCOVER ALL THE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
WE ARE COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, AND NEVER QUITTING!
CONGRATULAITONS TO THE
"i nEVER qUIT"
BLACK HISTORY MAKER AWARD Recipients
Celebrating the Legacy of
Dorothy E. Brunson
Ms. Brunson was the first African American woman to own and operate a television station, with her purchase of WGTW-TV Channel 48 in Philadelphia in 1986.
Dorothy Edwards was born in Georgia and raised in Harlem, N.Y.
A graduate of New York City public schools, she hoped for a career in the arts and studied drama, fashion, photography and advertising.
“But I needed something more,” she told The Baltimore Sun in a 1986 profile.
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She returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting in 1960 from the State University of New York Empire State College in Saratoga Springs and went to work in 1962 as assistant controller of WWRL-Radio in New York City.
Ms. Brunson advanced very quickly and within three months became controller. Before she left in 1969, she was the station’s assistant general manager and corporate liaison.
“When I first came to WWRL, yearly advertising billings were around $700,000. By the time I left, they had grown to nearly $5 million,” Ms. Brunson said in the 1986 Sun article.
In New York City, she co-founded Howard Sanders Advertising, which was one of the first African American advertising agencies in the U.S., and Madison Avenue’s first.
The next year, with $115,000 in buyout money, she was hired by Inner City Broadcasting to assist black investors purchasing WLIB-AM Radio, New York’s first station focused on the African-American community.
Within four months, the station was reeling, with more than $1 million in debt, and Ms. Brunson was hired as its general manager.
She turned the station’s operation around, reducing staff and debt, and eventually expanded its ownership to include WLIB-FM, which was renamed WBLS, and six other stations.
Our Board of Directors
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edward r. brunson
son & board founder
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shelly shell williams
marketing guru
A Media Consultant affectionately yet authoritatively referred to as Philly’s Oprah. She climbed the corporate ladder from Intern to Executive Producer of Urban X-pressions, the longest-running video show in the
Delaware Valley.
STACIE L. TEAL-LOCUST
REAL ESTATE BROKER
As a mother of an HBCU student as well as a businesswoman; (Broker of The Real Estate Store of Maryland LLC), I serve my community with intention and strength. I’m a hard study and I’m passionate about the caveats that I find interesting.
monica gladney
Creative director
A multi-talented entrepreneur with a passion for life. She’s professionally known as Monie On Da Scene, made famous by being a co-host of the Word on the Street Segment on Urban X-pressions.
Alex mccamey
marketing & Sales
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peter schimdt
design specialist
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Please stay connected with us.
Be a part of a mission worthy of your commitment and trust. Join in and become a partaker of this good feeling.
The Dorothy E. Brunson Legacy continues with you!