Bob Ross is leading the way to save PBS

THE INDOMITABLY forgiving painter Bob Ross, who assured us that mistakes are simply "happy accidents," didn't usually talk politics. But it's worth remembering when he dipped into punditry upon drawing an errant evergreen: "That's a crooked tree," he joked. "We'll send him to Washington.

- WENDY SCHMIDT GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

A COLLECTION of Bob Ross paintings is expected to raise $1 million at auction for public media.

(Bob Ross Inc. via Associated Press)

The crooked trees in D.C. took the unusual step this summer of clawing back funds they had already approved for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which closed its doors on Sept. 30, putting public radio and television stations nationwide in dire straits. The works of the late Bob Ross, a former Air Force drill sergeant who continues to delight PBS viewers worldwide with "The Joy of Painting," will now go on the auction block to benefit public media. The first three of 30 paintings will go up for bids in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

It's a brilliant and generous move from Bob Ross Inc. and one that shouldn't have to happen. Although the legacy of Bob Ross will live on with or without the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the loss of public media is hitting the small towns, rural areas and Indigenous peoples across the U.S. the hardest. These are the Americans for whom public media is akin to a utility, serving as a vital source of information, of emergency alerts, of cultural programming and community identity.

It's up to all of us to save public media as an essential, free news service. We have the opportunity to reshape public media, improve its business with a sustainable model and ensure this resource can continue to operate and serve the public. After more than a decade supporting public media, our family foundation is doing more in the difficult times. We're asking other foundations, philanthropic minded families and individuals, and anyone who grew up painting happy or even crooked little trees with Bob Ross to join us.