Advocating for Honesty

Growing up in Apartheid South Africa, Cathy Kay saw how bad actors could leverage disinformation in their favor, whether it was the government disenfranchising the Black population or developers exploiting the land.

It’s a big part of why she wanted to move to America, in fact: Freedom, transparency, democratic ideals. “I really believed in the [U.S.] Constitution,” she says.

A lifelong environmental activist who worked for years in South Africa’s parks and big game reserves, Kay is passionate about transparency and recently decided to leave her estate to Arizona Public Media through a carefully planned gift to the University of Arizona Foundation. 

“I think it’s honest reporting, fair reporting,” she says — values she sees as especially important in turbulent times.

“The programs are fantastic,” she says. She also understands the costs of producing these shows, whether it’s licensing material like BBC World Service or sending AZPM staff out to report original stories. “I can’t tell you how much I can’t live without it,” she says. “At least I don’t have to go for counseling.”

Kay is judicious about her philanthropy. “People say, why don’t you give [your money] to conservation? Why don’t you give it to save the elephant?’ Well, we can’t save the elephant,” she says matter-of-factly. “Which breaks my heart. But what are you going to do?”

Instead, Kay has decided to pitch in by helping an institution she sees as making a difference here and now.

“Who knows what’s going to happen in 20 years? But as long as we can keep going, I want that money to go [to AZPM]. To stand up and fight and do the right things.”