William Spencer Reilly is president and CEO of Lightworks Pictures, a new motion picture division under the integrated umbrella of Lightworks Enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary of Odyssey Networks. The new company develops and produces made-for-television movies and independent theatrical films. Its first film, “The Note,” was Hallmark Channel’s highest rated movie of the year in 2007. The sequel, “Taking a Chance on Love,” premiered on the Hallmark Channel in January 2009, earning the honor of cable’s highest rated primetime telecast of the day.

Previously, Reilly was vice president of production and programming at Odyssey Networks (formerly Faith & Values Media), the nation’s largest coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion. In that position, Mr. Reilly oversaw the company’s regular weekly productions and programming on Hallmark Channel as well as its primetime holiday specials. Mr. Reilly’s contributions as executive producer resulted in two of the highest rated movies in Hallmark Channel’s history: “Love Comes Softly” and “Love’s Enduring Promise,” as well as Hallmark Channel’s highest rated non-fiction special, “Reluctant Saint: Francis of Assisi.” His efforts in providing programs designed to inspire, inform and entertain have helped Odyssey Networks in garnering scores of national awards and accolades for such programs as “C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia,” “Florence Nightingale,” “Patrick,” “Joan of Arc,” and many others.

Prior to Odyssey Networks, Mr. Reilly was executive producer of The 50th Anniversary of The Christopher Awards and successfully negotiated the gala celebration’s national broadcast premiere.

In the mid 90s, Mr. Reilly was president and CEO of Sea Lion Productions, Inc., a New York based television production company, which produces “The Walker’s Cay Chronicles,” ESPN’s highest rated outdoor series. In his role, Mr. Reilly was instrumental in reorganizing the company fiscally and managerially, resulting in over $1,000,000 in revenue through foreign syndication sales in 112 countries worldwide.

Before his full time career in television, Reilly worked on Broadway and Off-Broadway as an actor, and then as a producer of shows and special events. As president and managing partner of The William Spencer Reilly Group, Ltd., he led a staff of 72 when producing the Broadway workshop production of Leon Uris’ bestseller, “Trinity.” On other entrepreneurial fronts, he raised the financing and launched The New York GiftExpress, Inc., an overnight shopping/delivery service in 29 hotels in New York City. He also acquired the worldwide licensing rights to Sardi’s complete collection of caricatures.

From 1988 to 1991, Bill served as executive director of Fordham University’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. He planned and produced his alma mater’s 150th Anniversary Celebration, which consisted of 88 academic, liturgical and theatrical events, among them his highly acclaimed fundraiser “WAITIN’ IN THE WINGS®: The Night The Understudies Take Center Stage.”

From 1982 to 1988, Mr. Reilly was the founding executive director of the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center Inc., a not-for-profit three-theater complex at Manhattan Community College, where he produced several original Off-Broadway shows, and presented over one hundred dance, music, and theatre programs including the first four annual presentations of WAITIN’ IN THE WINGS®.

At the age of 26, Bill was appointed program director of the American Theatre Wing, founders of the theater’s most coveted prize, The Antoinette Perry “TONY” Awards. For five years, he ran the day-to-day activities of the Theatre Wing and conceived/produced the first 32 programs of its cable TV series “Working in the Theatre,” now in its 31st year in New York. Bill started his career as a producer at this time with a successful fundraiser for his high school at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall – “Bob Hope and The Best of Broadway Salute Fordham Prep” which featured Mr. Hope, the casts of eight Broadway shows and The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.

Mr. Reilly received his BA in theatre from Fordham University. He served his apprenticeship as an actor with the Yale Repertory Company and graduated from The Theatre Development Fund’s Commercial Theatre Institute and NYU’s program in entrepreneurial studies. He lives in Somers, New York with his wife Diane and his two daughters, Maeve and Erin.

Photo Caption: Kondwani is 15, in form two and on our scholarship program. Like many Malawian girls, she is interested in becoming a nurse. Part of her desire to study nursing could be the absence of other female role models. Apart from nurses, she does not come into contact with professional women. Foundation President Gillian Rose asked her to read from a schoolbook. She chose a passage from Rome and Juliet.

Headmaster Mr. Longue says his school near Chintheche is expanding but the number of classrooms and furniture remain the same. It is a tight fit. It has a modest library with books as varied as T.S. Eliot’s poetry, Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, Bill Cosby and John Grisham, the latter obviously donated. Our student Violet’s favorite subject is English. She is seen here trying on school shoes we bought her.