ORLANDO (Feb. 19, 2021) – The stories of unsung heroes, those people whose quiet courage and inspiration make up the soul of our communities, often go untold. But this spring, PBS stations across Florida will change that with a series of specials titled “Growing Bolder’s Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives Presented by Florida Blue Medicare.” These programs — months-in-the-making — will feature people who were nominated by people from their local communities.
“We often feature celebrities and sports champions’ stories in our broadcasts and publications,” said Growing Bolder CEO and Founder Marc Middleton. “However, we wanted to shine a light on people in our local communities who really make Florida the great state it is. This was never more true than during the pandemic.”
The programs will air in the following markets during March. Check local listings for additional times.
• Jacksonville, Jax PBS – March 13, 10 a.m.
• Orlando, WUCF – March 6, 9 a.m.
• Tampa, WEDU – March 7, 5:30 p.m. and March 14, 11:30 a.m.
• Fort Myers, WGCU – March 3, 5 a.m.; March 4, 2:30 p.m.; March 7, 10 a.m.; and March 10, 2:30 p.m.
• Miami, WPBT – March 4, 12 a.m.; March 4, 3 a.m.; March 6, 12 p.m.; March 7, 5 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• West Palm Beach, WXEL – March 6, 5 a.m.; March 7, 3 a.m.; March 7, 2 p.m.; and March 8, 5 a.m.
Last fall, Growing Bolder and the PBS stations asked Floridians to nominate “ordinary people” who had extraordinary stories to tell. Since then, Growing Bolder has been crisscrossing the state capturing these fascinating, uplifting tales to share this spring. The diverse profiles include octogenarian swimmers seeking to smash a world record, a former Gator football star battling a health crisis, a photographer who found a fun side of quarantining and the “Calendar Girls,” who discovered a novel way to enjoy fitness and give back to their community.
The stories strike an authentic chord that has become a signature of PBS programming. Earlier this month, a study revealed that for the 18th year in a row, Americans named PBS the most trusted institution in a nationwide survey.
Middleton and co-host Bill Shafer will be hosting the seventh season of “Growing Bolder” this summer on the same PBS stations airing the spring specials, as well as on public television nationwide. The programs encourage people to live active, purposeful lives.
About Growing Bolder. Growing Bolder is a multi-media company producing inspirational, educational content aimed at the 50+ audience. The company produces TV and radio programs, a podcast and a popular lifestyle magazine. More at www.growingbolder.com.
