Maxwell King

Maxwell King's four-decade career includes the presidencies of two of the country’s largest philanthropies and the editorship of one of its most influential daily newspapers.

King joined The Pittsburgh Foundation, with assets of more than $1 billion, in 2014 as president and CEO.

His strong advocacy for including vulnerable groups – at least 30 percent of the region’s population – in the benefit streams of a resurgent Pittsburgh anchors a signature organizing principle, 100 Percent Pittsburgh. In addition, King is expanding the Foundation’s investment in its Center for Philanthropy, which combines the charitable passions of donors with expert program staff and grantees to improve lives in the Pittsburgh region.

Before that, King served for two years as director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Westmoreland County.

As president of the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments from 1999 to 2008, he led the disbursement of about $500 million in grants to projects, organizations and initiatives primarily in western Pennsylvania.

From 1990 to 1998, King was editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. During that period, the Inquirerwas recognized by Time magazine as one of the five best newspapers in America.

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 full board from 2006 to 2008.

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

Fifty years ago the face of children’s television changed forever with the premiere of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The creator and star of the show, Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking seriously their fears, concerns, and questions about the world. His legacy as a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness is still felt today.

The first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work. From childhood stories and relationships with his family to the role religion played in his work, his close collaboration with leading childhood development experts, and his attempt to make television for adults, The Good Neighbor tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the premiere of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. In addition to The Good Neighbor, there are multiple projects to commemorate this moment, including an upcoming biopic starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, a critically acclaimed documentary currently in theaters nationwide, and a Fred Rogers stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Now is the time to celebrate Fred Rogers.