The MPT Foundation, Inc. has elected Bill Gilmore, former chief executive officer of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA), to its board of directors.

The MPT Foundation, Inc. is the 501(c) (3) fundraising affiliate of Maryland Public Television. Incorporated in 1981 as the Maryland Public Broadcasting Foundation, Inc., the foundation today comprises approximately two dozen members drawn from Maryland business, civic, and cultural communities to assist MPT in securing private contributions and foundation grants.

Gilmore, a Baltimore City resident, is a longtime advocate for the arts, and during his tenure at BOPA the organization distributed $2 million annually to local artists and performers in the form of grants, awards, and commissions. Under Gilmore’s leadership, BOPA also founded the annual Baltimore Book Festival, which features local and national authors and their bestsellers; Free Fall Baltimore, a citywide celebration offering arts-related events; and, in 2016, introduced Light City, an early-spring festival of light, music and innovation.

Gilmore earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from University of Baltimore. He also obtained certification as a festival executive from Purdue University and International Festivals Association.

About MPT

Launched in 1969 and headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, Maryland Public Television is a nonprofit, state-licensed public television network and member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). MPT’s six transmitters cover Maryland plus portions of contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards, MPT creates local, regional, and national television shows. Beyond broadcast, MPT’s commitment to professional educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through year-round instructional events and the super-website Thinkport, which garners in excess of 14 million page views annually. MPT’s community engagement connects viewers with local resources on significant health, education, and public interest topics through year-round outreach events, viewer forums, program screenings, and phone bank call-in opportunities. For more information visit mpt.org.