PITTSBURGH – Jim Britt, former Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, is joining WQED Multimedia as Head of Partnership Solutions. In this new role, Britt will be responsible for advancing the institution’s work building partnerships with local and national corporations, community arts & culture organizations, colleges & universities, nonprofits and other entities seeking to celebrate, champion and positively influence communities across southwestern Pennsylvania.
“We’re confident that Jim’s creativity and proven leadership will accelerate and grow our impact in the many communities we serve,” said Jason Jedlinski, WQED’s President and CEO. “Organizations across our region have an enormous appetite to partner with WQED, and an architect like Jim will help us bring new ideas and initiatives to life.”
“I’m excited to help the WQED team achieve Jason’s visionary objectives for WQED: funding unique local programming that reflects and champions our diverse communities through both new and strengthened partnerships across the region,” said Britt.
With Britt’s leadership, the Penguins partnered with U. S. Steel to co-chair a $20 million capital campaign in support of the historic Braddock Carnegie Library and developed a Reading Champions pilot program in the West Mifflin School District. He and his team worked with Dick’s Sporting Goods to develop the Willie O’Ree Academy, providing unique opportunities for Black youth hockey players. The Penguins Foundation also partnered with Highmark to reopen the historic Hunt Armory Ice Rink to the community.
“Since I was a kid, I dreamed of being part of a team that won the Stanley Cup,” said Britt. “After two championship seasons, my ambitions turned outward to the community and this remarkable region we call home.”
Under Britt’s leadership, the Penguins earned the 2023 NHL Stanley Award for Best Social Impact & Growth Initiatives, were named 2022 You Can Play NHL Inclusion Champion, were finalists for the 2022 ESPY Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year, and were a finalist for the 2022 NHL Stanley Award for Social Impact Team of the Year.
Britt most recently served as the Penguins’ Vice President of Fan Development & Growth. He was the club’s longtime Director of Team Operations, responsible for an $8 million dollar budget and for planning events from championship parades to VIP receptions at the White House.
Despite growing up a Flyers fan, Britt says he’s “forever a Penguin,” having spent 20 years with the franchise, starting in its Wilkes-Barre/Scranton club. Jim and his wife Erin live in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with their children, Benjamin and Samantha.
About WQED
WQED Multimedia starts conversations and creates experiences that educate, entertain and inspire our neighbors in Pittsburgh and across southwest Pennsylvania. Founded in 1954 as an experiment in educational community-supported television, WQED was a forerunner to PBS.
Our content creators produce impactful stories that delve into the rich mosaic of our region’s past, present, and future. We cover a wide range of topics, from arts and culture to pressing societal issues that impact our lives. We profile remarkable individuals and organizations who work to strengthen our communities. Our Learning Neighborhoods support children, in partnership with area schools and libraries, and extend to high school students exploring media careers through the WQED Film Academy. Known as “The Voice of the Arts,” WQED-FM provides a vital platform that amplifies our vibrant and diverse cultural assets, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
WQED Multimedia operates WQED-TV (PBS); WQED World; WQED Create; WQED Showcase; WQED PBS KIDS Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel; plus various streams, apps, and interactive experiences.