Arizona PBS donor spotlight: Searle Wadley and Sue Hart-Wadley

We are excited to feature an extraordinary donor couple. To say Searle Wadley and Sue Hart-Wadley have changed Arizona PBS’ future would be an understatement. Their recent $10 million dollar gift to the station will serve to educate, inspire and ensure the future of public television remains strong for years to come.

The Wadleys recently stopped by for a visit, where we had the pleasure of shining the (actual) spotlight on them in our studio; on the very set they watch “Arizona Horizon” each evening. Let’s get to know this couple, and learn how they hope their gift will impact the station and the state of Arizona.

Getting to know the Wadleys

Originally from Chicago, where both Searle and Sue worked in the pharmaceutical business (Sue in HR and Searle as a microbiologist), the couple gradually felt the pull of the warm weather (year-round tennis and cycling!), unique bird species and spectacular desert landscape calling them to make the state of Arizona home. Twenty years later, they have not looked back.

Lifetime lovers of PBS, Searle and Sue enjoy a variety of programming. They don’t miss “PBS News Hour” for what they describe as “a dependable, trustworthy and unbiased” source of news, and have a soft spot for “Arizona Horizon” and host Ted Simons.

“Especially with this being an election year, we can’t tell you how important it is to educate yourself on who and what you are voting for,” they said. “We rely on Arizona PBS for fair debates, information and a focus on important issues in our state. You can’t find that anywhere else, and we don’t want that to disappear.”

From their breakfast table, the couple enjoys identifying the desert birds that visit their feeders. “Nature” is also a must-watch, as they appreciate the vivid photography and videography that brings the beauty of the animal world into our homes. Of course, with their background in science, “NOVA” also tops the list for that never-ending exploration of the world and how it works.

“Science is an infinite subject – we need to be exploring solutions to our world’s problems that science can solve,” Searle commented. To this end, the Wadley’s gift will help fund a planned series focused on innovators tackling society’s most challenging problems.

Why they chose to make a gift

Gifts of this size are transformative in so many ways, and when asked, “Why now?” the couple reminisced about attending a donor event, where the need for a new broadcast tower was discussed.

“We just really saw the urgency – we couldn’t let this vital public service disappear, and we wanted to be part of the solution,” they explained. Their gift will fund the construction of a new tower and ensure that generations of viewers can access PBS’ award-winning, highly regarded programming.

The Wadleys also see the work AZPBS kids LEARN! does in the community and the outreach the station provides to underserved communities in Arizona. Sue and Searle are passionate about how life-changing access to education is. “The ability to be a critical thinker is vital. We want to be part of educating the young children in the state so they are set up for success,” said Sue.

“Arizona PBS is a gem in the desert, and we hope to be an example to others, encouraging them to support an organization that can change lives and is accessible to everyone,” they said. “We are excited to watch our gift in action in this community we love.”

Learn more the Wadleys and their gift to Arizona PBS by reading their interview with ASU News.