Read more about WTHR Community Affairs Director Angela Cain
, and check out 13 things you didn't know about other WTHR personalities
1. My family is my heart. I love them so much. I am one of six children – five girls and one boy – raised in London, Ohio, outside of Columbus, and I have more than 30 nieces and nephews and big family reunions. There's nothing more important than faith, family and friends to me.
2. I consider myself a Buckeye Hoosier. I grew up in a small town and I don't ever want to forget the roots, family and friendships that helped shape me, so I will always be a Buckeye. But most of my adult life, I have been a Hoosier, and I love this community, too. I feel that Buckeyes and Hoosiers share the same Midwestern values of heart, home and compassion, so I am a proud "Buckeye Hoosier."
3. I spent the first 18 years of my career as a news anchor. When I was a news anchor and health reporter in Dallas, I completed my biggest career accomplishment (which also changed my life.) I wrote a 30-part series on cancer. When you interview people facing a health crisis, they teach you what's important in life: faith, family and friends. That series confirmed my desire to give up my top ten news anchor job and move back home to the Midwest to be with family. That is what matters most.
4. When I first moved back to the Midwest, I knew that I didn't want to be a news anchor anymore. I wanted to use, whatever media talents God had given me, to serve. That led me to the Community Affairs Director position at WTHR-TV and it has been the most rewarding time in my career – serving the community.
5. When I was in my job interview for WTHR in 2002, the general manager asked me what issue I wanted to address most, as Community Affairs Director. I believe that if we don't have healthy families, we don't have healthy communities, so I told him I wanted to lead a campaign against domestic abuse and child abuse. Shortly after, I created the 12-year old “Shattering the Silence” campaign against abuse. I'm so blessed to have a platform to help families find hope and healing from abuse.
6. Some may remember that this is not my ‘first rodeo' in Indianapolis. From 1986 to 1993, I worked at WRTV6, reporting and anchoring the weekend evening newscasts with Greg Todd. I had such a good experience in Indy that it was an easy decision to “come back home” to work again. I really love Central Indiana – beautiful area with great people.
7. I grew up singing gospel music in church and I sang in a band to help pay my way through college.
8. When I was nearly 18 years old, I had the chance to be a "Raelette." That's what they called back-up singers for Ray Charles. One of my band member's sons was a musician touring with Ray Charles and he shared a demo tape of my work. He said that Ray was interested, but I had plans to go to college and I didn't want to defer that dream.
9. I am a songwriter at heart. In the late 1990's, I sent a demo of my songs to a Columbia Records executive. I was shocked that she liked it and was interested in having me develop songs for two new groups, in Dallas, at the time. Guess who? Destiny's Child and Jessica Simpson. However, I was in the middle of a big work project, as a Dallas News anchor, and never had the chance to follow through. Missed an opportunity there, but I always believe everything happens for a reason. No regrets.
10. I love HGTV and I love to decorate. One of my sisters and I have led decorating efforts for some of our family members, as gifts or surprises. If I had time for a second career, I would probably take interior decorating as a major because I love to bring color and happiness into people's homes.
11. I am in a blended family after marrying a widower with four daughters. I also had a daughter, so I helped raise five girls, full-time, who are now all in college or college graduates from Purdue, Ball State and I.U. and one out-of-state. Blending families has ups and downs but I believe that God brought us together for a reason and everyone is doing well. That's a blessing.
12. My personal hero is… my Mom. She sacrificed so much to raise six children, largely alone, on a secretary's salary. I always say, we were poor but rich in values. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without the values she demonstrated for us: hard work, unconditional love, faith, and the importance of family. She is our nucleus. If I can be half the woman that she is, my life will be a success.
13. Some have heard me say this, but I truly believe that we are in this world to connect with each other and to love each other. Life is beautiful, really. For what other reason are we here? Let's not make it so complicated.
