Maxwell King, the former CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation, presented The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers at City of Asylum in January 2019. It is the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers and draws on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents to tell the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Highlights from this archived program showcase the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations.

We know Fred Rogers as an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. He was a champion of childhood development and a true advocate for compassion and equality. His beliefs on morality and acceptance may be geared towards children but they have resounding usefulness across generations—and are particularly poignant in times of struggle and hardship. Fred Rogers’ commitment to neighborliness and to acceptance of our fellow human beings is not only a lesson but almost a salve in this difficult time.

Maxwell King's four-decade career includes the presidencies of two of the country’s largest philanthropies—The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments—and the editorship of The Philadelphia Inquirer, one of the nation’s most influential daily newspapers. He also served as director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. King has served on boards and committees for many national and regional organizations, including the national Council on Foundations which he led as the first chair of its Ethics and Practices Committee and then as chair of the Council’s full board from 2006 to 2008.

The Show Must Go On(line) is made possible thanks to generous support from the Benter Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, the Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation, the Opportunity Fund, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and an Anonymous Foundation.

The Good Neighbor, The Life and Work of Fred Rogers presented by City of Asylum