LOS ANGELES (March 2, 2010) – The California Endowment today announced the appointment of Marley Klaus, veteran news producer and blogger, as Director of Communications and Media for the private, statewide health foundation. Klaus, who is headquartered in the foundation’s Los Angeles office, is responsible for the development and execution of all communications activities for the foundation, including those for its newest 10-year venture
Building Healthy Communities.
“Marley is an ideal match for The Endowment,” said Robert K. Ross, M.D. “As a foundation, we seek to change the health paradigm for poor and marginalized communities in California, and Marley’s ability to connect storytelling to California’s most pressing policy issues will be critical to the success of our work over the next 10 years.”
Klaus, a Harvard graduate, developed the news magazine
California Connected and served as its executive producer for five years (2001-2006.) The program, which examined issues critical to the state with a focus on policy, had a robust and dynamic internet operation. It aired on California’s 13 public television stations, as well as radio and garnered more than 57 regional and national awards and nominations. Klaus also served for eight years (1986-1994) as a producer and writer for the CBS News program
60 Minutes for which she received 2 national Emmy Award nominations.
In addition, Klaus started her own production company, Ghost Productions, in 1994 for which she developed and/or produced pilots for CBS and ABC. She also produced a limited-run, non-fiction television series,
Vital Signs, which focused on doctors’ most confusing cases. The prime-time ABC show was hosted by Robert Urich.
“I am a huge fan of The California Endowment. When I was at
California Connected, we spent all of our time reporting on the people and institutions working hard to address the state's critical issues. When it came to health, no institution came close to The Endowment's impact. If the project was creative, insightful and practical, we knew we'd find out that The California Endowment was involved in some way. I am honored that I've been invited to help The California Endowment as it prepares to launch
Building Healthy Communities." said Klaus.
Klaus, who began her career at KRON in San Francisco, also spent time as a researcher for CBS Evening News’ investigative unit. She currently writes for her blog
The Heathen. A project she began in 2006, The Heathen explores the relationship between religion, faith, and conflict. She is a member of Writer’s Guild West, the Scholars and Journalists working group within the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, and the American Academy of Religion. She resides in Sherman Oaks with her husband Kevin Dowling, a producer and director for stage, film and television.
The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California. To date, The Endowment has awarded over 11,000 grants across California totaling more than $2 billion. For more information, visit The Endowment’s Web site at
www.calendow.org.
