Press Room
SVA Chosen as Recipient of King Family Foundation Endowment for Undergraduate Film Students
$450,000 endowment to be distributed by the Visual Arts Foundation to upper-level BFA Filmmaking students
New York—School of Visual Arts (SVA) today announces that the College has been chosen by the Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation as a recipient of a one-time endowment of $450,000 to its Visual Arts Foundation, the nonprofit that funds SVA student scholarships. The donation is to be established as the Diana King Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of the King Family Foundation’s founder, who passed away in 2019. The Fund will support select rising undergraduate juniors and seniors in their final years of study in the BFA Film program, with the first five recipients to be named by acting department chair Mary Lee Grisanti this spring.
Established by Diana King in 1988 to support individuals and organizations committed to educational excellence and professional development, the King Family Foundation began granting scholarship awards in 1990 to undergraduate students with a focus in film, television and related media/communications studies. As part of a streamlining of its operations, the Foundation has chosen to provide endowment grants to those schools who have historically provided the Foundation with the largest number of scholarship winners, including SVA.
Diana King grew up in the world of television, a daughter of the late Charles King (who founded King World Productions in 1964) and his wife Lucille King. King World became the leading distributor of television syndicated programming in the United States, including such iconic series as The Little Rascals, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Inside Edition and Dr. Phil. Diana began working in the accounting department of the family business in 1972, and at the time of King World's acquisition by the CBS Corporation in 2000 served as executive vice president, corporate secretary and director. During her 30-year tenure as board chair and president, the Foundation awarded hundreds of scholarships to students at colleges and universities around the country, in many instances to individuals who would have been financially unable to continue their studies without this assistance. In addition, the Foundation has acted as a longtime sponsor of programs at several leading cultural and educational institutions around the country.
“This is one of the most significant endowments the Visual Arts Foundation has received in its more than 50-year history,” said Jeffrey Nesin, president, Visual Arts Foundation. “We are proud to preserve Diana King’s legacy through the promising young filmmakers who will surely benefit from this generous support, and we thank the King Family Foundation for recognizing SVA as a worthy recipient of such a gift.”
“Diana King had a passion for media and, thanks to this endowment, her memory will live on in future generations of talented graduates of the School of Visual Arts,” said Eugene Kokot, president and chair of The Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation. “We are delighted to join other friends and alumni in supporting SVA and its extensive community of outstanding storytellers and artists.”
“The Diana King Memorial Scholarship gives five student filmmakers a chance to achieve their best work in their final year without compromising their talent or imagination for lack of funds,” said Mary Lee Grisanti. “It is not just a gift of money, but a gift of hope and confidence, as they are about to enter the professional world of film and television. It tells all our filmmakers: work hard, keep dreaming, despite hardship. Because of Diana King, there is more opportunity to realize your goals.”
Founded in 1968, the Visual Arts Foundation provides scholarships for deserving students to study at the School of Visual Arts; supports exhibitions, conferences, and competitions and promotes the study and improvement of the arts; encourages cooperation and exchange among artists, designers, students, publishers and others engaged in artistic activities; receives gifts, legacies and donations; and offers awards, appropriations and scholarships from these resources.
School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 39,000 alumni in 128 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College’s 31 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu.