FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 2/27/2025 — PBS North Carolina announces that a generous gift from the estate of Daniel “Dan” Lee Carrigan of Davidson, NC, will help support science content across platforms for the next three to five years, including for its Emmy Award-winning series Sci NC. This transformative gift honors Carrigan’s lifelong passion for science and helps sustain the statewide network’s commitment to enlightening and inspiring educational content for all North Carolinians.
Sci NC is set to launch its eighth season in fall 2025. This gift from Dan Carrigan and the Gaia Earth-Balance Endowment through the Gaston Community Foundation will help propel the series to a milestone tenth season in 2027 and support the development and creation of science content across digital platforms.
“PBS North Carolina is thankful to Dan Carrigan and his family for their generous estate gift,” said Caroline Francis, PBS North Carolina’s Director of Philanthropic Gifts. “Education and lifelong learning are central to our mission. Dan Carrigan’s bequest enables us to further share enriching and engaging content about science, technology and innovation with all North Carolinians.”
Dan Carrigan (1946–2024) grew up in Florida and received his BA from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, before serving in the Navy as a pilot. He later attended Tulane Graduate School in Public Policy, New Orleans. In 1974, he founded the Metrolina Medical Peer Review Foundation, an organization that helped doctors in North and South Carolina standardize care. His later life focused on a variety of projects, including creating nature spaces and facilitating educational opportunities for hospice nurses and doctors.
“Dan Carrigan cared deeply about science and nature. He was pleased to support PBS North Carolina and its important statewide focus on science and the environment,” said his partner, Suzanne “Zee” Berl. “We believe that PBS North Carolina’s science programming, including Sci NC, helps stimulate viewers’ thinking about the world around us.”
Sci NC airs Thursday nights on PBS NC and streams online and on the free PBS app. PBS North Carolina’s science team also produces biweekly blogs at pbsnc.org/science and a host of video shorts for YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
“PBS North Carolina is committed to stewarding the Carrigan Family’s generous gift with thoughtfulness and creativity, ensuring it makes an impact for years to come,” added Caroline Francis.
For more information about ways to support PBS North Carolina and its mission, visit pbsnc.org/support.
An original production of PBS North Carolina, Sci NC explores the fascinating ways science touches our daily lives as well as groundbreaking research and innovation happening across the state. The series is hosted by Emmy Award-winning reporter Frank Graff and features stories from PBS North Carolina producers Evan Howell and Michelle Lotker as well as contributions from engineer and educator Dr. Nehemiah Mabry and Dr. Adrian Smith of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. To learn more about Sci NC, visit pbsnc.org/sci-nc.
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
-PBS NC-
Media Contact
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications
PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org