Vegas PBS Reinvents the Live TV Pledge Drive to Support Public Television

Henderson, Nevada Dec 4, 2025 (Issuewire.com) On December 4, 2025, Vegas PBS will go live with a three-hour prime-time pledge special unlike anything the station has done before. More than a fundraiser, Pledge for Vegas is a celebration of our community, our culture and our future.

Hosted by entertainer John Di Domenico and veteran Co-host and journalist Maria Silva, Pledge for Vegas reimagines the well-remembered pledge drive with classic Vegas flair, drawing inspiration from Jerry Lewis, Lawrence Welk and Johnny Carson. By combining nostalgia with forward-thinking engagement, this pledge drive will be a national story of resilience and creativity in public media.

Pledge for Vegas will feature special appearances from Alicia Shevetone, Carpenters Legacy, Chippendales, FANTASY, John Katsilometes, Lon Bronson Band, Magic Mike, Mark Shunock, Mikalah Gordon, Murray SawChuck, Myron Martin, Nicholas Cole & The Italian American Club, Piff The Magic Dragon, Ryan Ahern, The Rat Pack is Back and many more surprise guests. From John Di Domenicos energy in the Vegas PBS studio to field segments with Maria Silva giving you a backstage tour of Vegas PBS, the night will showcase the true impact of Vegas PBS.

This event comes at a pivotal moment. With the loss of federal funding, Vegas PBS faces a 12 percent budget shortfall. Pledge for Vegas is a bold response: a night of entertainment, storytelling and local flavor designed to both close the gap and launch a movement for the future of public media in Southern Nevada.

Pledge for Vegas will stream across all Vegas PBS broadcast and digital platforms, including YouTube, and will be shared as highlight clips and donor stories online. A dedicated social media campaign will engage viewers in real time, feature audience shout-outs, and "viewers like me" social videos.

Information about Pledge for Vegas and how to watch can be found at https://www.vegaspbs.org/shows/specials/pledge-for-vegas

ABOUT THE HOSTS

John Di Domenico
From comedy clubs to improv stages to business theatre, John has been writing and performing for audiences worldwide for over 30 years. His early career highlights included appearances at Catch a Rising Star and Carolines in New York City. He performed as a cast member of Some Assembly Required, one of New Yorks finest improv troupes. Di Domenicos focus over the last decade has been entertaining audiences worldwide as a professional emcee, performing as either himself, or in the guise of one his many celebrity characters.

Maria Silva
Maria Silva, a proud UNLV graduate, is an Emmy Award-winning journalist with a broadcasting career that spans more than 25 years. Maria is the host, producer, and writer of Bienvenidos a Las Vegas, a project she calls her love letter to a city and community that welcomed her family with open arms in 1981. Maria also serves as host of Student Spotlight on Vegas PBS and the digital series Outdoor Nevada Presents: Tales from the Trails. In 2019, Maria was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

About Vegas PBS

Vegas PBS is a member-supported public television service providing educational content for over 55 years. Vegas PBS builds community through television, education services, and unique experiences that create a sense of place, civic and social capital. For 15 consecutive years, Vegas PBS has remained among the top ten most-watched PBS stations in the country. The station offers four unique broadcast channels: Vegas PBS Ch. 10.1, Vegas PBS Create Ch. 10.2, VEGAS PBS KIDS Ch. 10.3, and Vegas PBS WORLD Ch. 10.4. The station collaborates with community partners to create award-winning content that examines informational, cultural, historic, and educational regional issues.

Vegas PBS provides a robust variety of education services and workforce development opportunities that extend the educational experience beyond the broadcast. Resources and services include Vegas PBS Ready To Learn educational workshops for children and families, professional development for teachers, online learning courses and certifications for adults, multimedia educational support for educators, and a Special Needs Resource Library serving those with special needs.

Vegas PBS viewers can access their favorite shows across multiple platforms including broadcast, vegaspbs.org, the PBS App and the PBS KIDS Video App. For more information, visit vegaspbs.org or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.