Two Weeks Left to Nominate Someone Extraordinary!
2025 PBS Reno Spotlight Awards & Auction nominations are open online now through April 30
RENO, NV (APR 16, 2025) — Who is someone who perfectly exhibits the word ‘extraordinary?’ Do you know a hardworking student or individual who is making a tangible difference in the lives of others? Perhaps your child has a teacher who goes above and beyond their role as an educator in the classroom. Or maybe you’ve experienced the services of a community group or local business that focuses on helping strangers in unique ways.
Now is the time to shine a light on these extraordinary examples in our community by nominating them for a 2025 PBS Reno Spotlight Award. Nominations are open online now and will close on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at midnight. The five categories are Extraordinary Student, Extraordinary Individual, Extraordinary Educator, Extraordinary Community Group, and Extraordinary Local Business.
“I’m always so impressed by the nominations every year, and this year is no exception,” said Holly Hutchinson, PBS Reno Event Coordinator. “We know there are so many incredible individuals and organizations out there deserving of recognition, and we want to make sure we’re shining a spotlight on all the talent and hard work that’s in our community. So, don’t hold back—keep those nominations coming!”
Following a month-long voting process in July, the winners will be announced live during the PBS Reno Spotlight Awards & Auction on Friday, September 12, 2025 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. This is PBS Reno’s biggest fundraiser of the year and raises the crucial funding necessary for local productions and for delivering thousands of Curiosity Classrooms workshops across nine school districts in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California.
“Our Spotlight Awards & Auction gala brings together people from across our region to celebrate the people who make the area special,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President & CEO. “PBS Reno is the thread that ties our community together and Spotlight gives us a chance to raise the funds used to support our important work.”
During the gala, PBS Reno will honor Jill and Par Tolles, the 2025 Extraordinary Philanthropists. Jill Tolles is the Executive Director of the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. Prior to joining the Guinn Center, Jill served three terms in the Nevada Legislature as the Assemblywoman for District 25, where she has served on the Education, Judiciary, Commerce and Labor, and Ways and Means Committees. Jill has given back to the community by serving on numerous boards and commissions over the years.
Par Tolles is the Chief Executive Officer of Tolles Development. An industry veteran with decades of experience and hundreds of successful developments to his name, Par has long served as a pioneer in changing the face of northern Nevada and beyond. Par is a leading advocate for solving the acute rise of homelessness in northern Nevada. Favoring action over conversation, he led the development of the Village on Sage Street, a transitional housing facility. His participation led to a leadership role in the campaign to raise private dollars to help build the Cares Campus, a 700-bed facility, health clinic, and general support hub for unhoused individuals. After the transition, Par continued to be instrumental to the facility’s success and orchestrated its fundraising initiatives. Today, the Cares Campus is recognized nationally as a model for other communities across the country.
“Jill and Par Tolles have spent years focusing on the wellbeing of northern Nevada, from supporting education and healthcare to tackling critical issues like homelessness,” said Emma Glenn, PBS Reno Vice President of Development. “Their leadership in these areas has made a tangible difference, and we are honored to recognize them at this year’s PBS Reno Spotlight Awards & Auction.”
Since 2020, the PBS Reno Spotlight Awards & Auction has celebrated more than 75 local businesses, non-profits, educators, and individuals. Past recipients of the PBS Reno Extraordinary Philanthropist award include Rick Reviglio, Brian Sandoval, the Carano family, and Sandy Raffealli.
About PBS Reno
As of November 2024, PBS Reno is enjoyed by more than 540,000 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube Channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom Workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
Contact us:
Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503