PBS SoCal to Receive Major Gift From the Inland Empire Community Foundation
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Los Angeles, Calif. – Oct. 30, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, announced today that The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), the oldest and largest community foundation in Inland Southern California, will be kindly offering up a portion of a transformative gift from the estate of trailblazer and philanthropist Jane Lykken Hoff, the largest-ever gift of its kind to the IECF.
PBS SoCal’s Chief Development Officer Cindy Galindo commented “Jane's extraordinary planned gift to PBS SoCal embodies her deep belief in community, education, arts and culture and the environment. Through this legacy, she demonstrates her unwavering commitment to uplifting her community and enriching the lives of future generations, ensuring that public media continues to inspire and connect us all.”
“We are deeply honored to receive this remarkable gift from Jane Lykken Hoff’s estate,” said Michelle Decker, IECF President and CEO. “Jane’s commitment to philanthropy has made a lasting impact in our region, and this donation will enable us to further her vision by funding organizations that she loved and that uplift our communities in Coachella Valley.”
Jane, who passed away last year at the age 103, dedicated her life to charitable endeavors, focusing on causes from arts and culture to education and environmental protection. Her legacy will continue through The Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund to support four organizations close to her heart – College of the Desert Foundation, Palm Springs Historical Society, Palm Springs Public Library Foundation and PBS SoCal in perpetuity.
The permanent endowment fund will provide scholarships to veterans and nursing students at the College of the Desert and benefit programming offered by Palm Springs Historical Society, Palm Springs Public Library Foundation and PBS SoCal.
Widely known for her exceptional skills as a horsewoman, Jane spent much of her life exploring the rich beauty of the Indian Canyons on horseback, leading groups of riders on wilderness adventures. Generous, witty, and refined, she leaves behind a legacy of unwavering dedication to the community she loved.
“Jane believed in the power of community,” said Katherine and Greg Hough, executors of Jane Lykken Hoff’s estate. “This gift ensures that her passion for giving back will continue to inspire future generations. We are excited to see the positive impact this funding will bring to our region.”
Voices of Other Nonprofit Beneficiaries
"College of the Desert is deeply honored to receive this extraordinary gift from Jane Lykken Hoff, whose generosity will leave an enduring impact on our students and programs. Her commitment to supporting our nursing and Veteran programs serves as a powerful example of how one person can shape the future for countless others. While Jane is no longer with us, her legacy of kindness and compassion continues to inspire. We invite others to follow in her footsteps, helping us uplift future generations and continue the mission she so passionately supported." – Catherine Abbott, Executive Director, College of the Desert Foundation
“The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation is grateful to be a beneficiary of the bequest of Jane Lykken Hoff. This bequest will support programs and resources at the Palm Springs Public Library in perpetuity. Libraries often find it difficult to purchase the resources which our respective communities should have. Jane Lykken Hoff's endowment will make a positive impact on our Library’s ability to meet those many needs year after year. We are very grateful to her and we hope her generosity motivates others to support our library in kind.”
– Board President, Bill Wylie, Palm Springs Public Library Foundation
“Jane Hoff served the Palm Springs Historical Society for decades and we are honored that she thought of us as part of her legacy. She was a most remarkable person: always optimistic, always generous, always congenial, always kind. She led a truly remarkable life not just because of her longevity, but because of her example of how to live well and fully. Jane is dearly missed and her gift to the Historical Society is most appreciated.”– Tracy Conrad, President, Palm Springs Historical Society
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About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal is available to stream on the PBS app and the PBS Kids App and reaches nearly 19M viewers across 7 Broadcast channels — including 2 primary channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus and 5 digital subchannels. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal offers programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.
About the Inland Empire Community Foundation
Founded in 1941, the Inland Empire Community Foundation is the oldest and largest community foundation in Inland Southern California. We partner with individuals, families and corporations to build a culture of philanthropy. Since inception, we have given out over $213 million in grants and scholarships. For more information visit the IECF’s website at www.iegives.org. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.