HEADLINE

      A 7-time Emmy Award winning television reporter, producer and host, Thomas Baldrick is a

      For years, Baldrick was also someone in demand to deal with stars beyond the world of sports.  In his work for shows such as “ET,”  “Access Hollywood,” and “Extra,” Thomas did interviews and behind the scenes features with the rich and famous from movies, music, television, and theatre. 
      In addition, he maintained hometown TV hosting duties throughout the 1990’s as an all-day presence on camera for Philly’s most watched local event … the traditional Philadelphia Mummers New Year’s Day Parade.    

HOME

      Thomas Baldrick was a hometown “Philly” guy until late 2005, when he finally left behind the cheese steaks, soft pretzels, and cold winters of Philadelphia, PA. Thomas moved to the Phoenix, Arizona, area’s, “Valley of the Sun,” taking with him the wealth of skills, expertise, and creativity that built a rewarding career of more than 20 years.
       Arizona has long been a special place for Baldrick both personally and professionally.  He vividly recalls that Friday, December 9, 1988 was the first time he stepped foot on Arizona soil.  The following day, he made his first live network television appearance covering a Philadelphia Eagles game vs. the then Phoenix Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium.
      Ten years later, Thomas received accolades for producing the season-premiere, “new look” episode of TLC’s, “A Wedding Story,” featuring the challenging tale of a bi-racial, hearing-impaired, couple from Mesa, AZ.  As the show’s Senior Producer, he helped craft “A Wedding Story” into the # 1 series on the network.
      In 2003, Baldrick found paradise in Paradise Valley, AZ, teaming up with former ABC colleague and TV legend, Hugh Downs, on a pharmaceutical documentary offering a unique, inside look at joint replacement surgery.
      While Thomas has enjoyed a longtime love affair with Arizona, the newer love affair he enjoys with his “little man,” and only child, Julian, has a special place unlike any other in his heart.

      As a journalist, Thomas Baldrick’s heart has gone with him on many stories.  He’s been impacted by up close and personal experiences covering hurricanes, school shootings, “The DC Sniper” murders, and other traumatic events.  However, nothing touched him as deeply as the 9-11 tragedies, devastation he witnessed from both New York City and Shanksville, PA.
      Baldrick built “The 9-11 Wall of Hope” – a 50-foot showcase for drawings, thoughts, poems, and prayers from children of the Families of Flight 93, and students across Pennsylvania.  On the first 9-11 anniversary, Baldrick was invited to unveil The Wall of Hope at Shanksville Elementary with Governor Mark Schweiker before it went on display for weeks at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA.
      In Spring 2003, Baldrick joined the Todd M. Beamer Foundation named for the United Flight 93 hero.  As host and keynote speaker, he helped launch “Heroic Choices,” a program designed to help New York City children who were victims of severe trauma.
      In 2007, Thomas Baldrick received the highest of honors to him, when he was invited to have his story included when the Flight 93 National Memorial opens in Shanksville, PA. 

SPORTS

      Baldrick got into the TV game when he earned his first break as a Radio-Television-Film major at Temple University.  After repeated responses of “No Thanks,” he persevered and got in the door at Group W Cable in Wildwood, NJ.  Each week that summer, the 18-year old worked more than 100 unpaid hours, “because I was given the opportunity to make every mistake in the book,” he claims.  Upon his return to school, Group W rewarded Thomas with a $250 stipend, and a paid job that he continued for three years, commuting two hours each way on nights and weekends.
      Before even earning his degree in 1983, Baldrick had the unthinkable happen.  He landed a job in a major market with CBS-owned WCAU-TV Channel 10 in Philadelphia.  On the final day of Thomas’ internship, the News Director fired someone in the Sports Department to open a spot for him.  Baldrick blossomed there for eight great years, rising from Sports Production Assistant to On-Air Sports Reporter, and Producer of Sports and Entertainment Programming, Documentaries and Prime-Time Specials.  (Note:  Some 25 years and 2400 miles later, he still produces special projects for the station!  Who says you can’t go home?)
        For the1990’s, Thomas Baldrick hit the road on the national TV level traveling extensively for various outlets including years as staff reporter/producer for the shows, “Billy Packer’s College Basketball” and “Hale Irwin’s Golf in America.”

      In Corporate America, Thomas Baldrick has specialized in supporting the pharmaceutical industry, working closely with actual patients and doctors in creating and producing heartwarming video success stories.  These highly sensitive and motivational projects have showcased drugs from Pfizer, J & J, AlPharma, Astra Zeneca, Sanofi-Aventis and more. 
      In 2006, Thomas brought “The Bayada Way,” to life on DVD.  These six-chapters of video tell the powerful story of Bayada Nurses, a unique national home healthcare company that truly believes its clients come first.  He has also produced for the likes of corporate giants, Comcast, Exelon, BP/Amoco, as well as government projects for the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. 
      Baldrick served proudly as a consultant to the Senior Management of Sovereign Bank, a community conscious Northeast Regional financial institution. He has also been honored to work in support of many non-profit organizations.  Among them, The United Negro College Fund, and civil rights leader, Rev. Leon Sullivan’s OIC movement, that “helps people to help themselves.”

It’s not all that common to hear of grown single men who serve as volunteers holding sick infants and toddlers.  But that’s exactly what Thomas Baldrick did for some three and a half years at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the facility that saved his life as a teenager.   Prior to the birth of his own son, Thomas Baldrick made good use of both written and spoken words from his heart. 
      As an author and advocate, he earned the media label of “A Champion for Children.” He helped to generate hundreds of thousands for charities by authoring two inspirational books about children:  “KIDS RULE! The Hopes and Dreams of 21st Century Children,” and “A Million & One Ways to Celebrate a Child.”  Also, through empowering speeches, guest appearances on TV and radio shows, workshops, and philanthropic efforts, Thomas Baldrick has made a remarkable impact on the lives of children and adults across America.
       In 2005, Baldrick received national attention for making a difference. His “Kindness Beats Blindness” program at Harrington Middle School in Mount Laurel, NJ, teamed him with a kindred spirit and teacher, Jen Uibel.  Together, they rallied hundreds of students to spend a day as “seeing eye kids” or blindfolded, so they could “see what it’s like” to be visually impaired.
      Baldrick’s plan was to raise money and awareness for research to cure Rebecca Veeck, a young South Carolina girl with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease that has taken her eyesight.  Charles Gibson featured the relationship of Thomas and Rebecca in a tear-jerking in-depth piece on ABC’s “Good Morning America.
      Proof that he himself can overcome obstacles and accomplish even the most difficult goals; Baldrick joined hundreds of Penn State University students half his age in 2003 and 2004 at “THON,” standing and signing books for 48-hours straight to benefit children with cancer.  Yes, that’s right…48 straight hours!  No Sitting!  No sleeping!  No kidding! 
      Thomas also feels blessed to have served as one of the hosts for Philadelphia’s annual TV coverage of “The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon,” and Buffalo, New York’s annual, “Variety Club Telethon.”