BET Foundation Names Executive Director

Darlene Nipper has joined the BET Foundation as executive director, Black Entertainment Television president and chief operating officer Debra Lee said Wednesday.

Nipper had been COO of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

BET created the foundation to manage its philanthropic and community-outreach ventures.

Among its ventures: "Rap-It-Up," a campaign addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community; "Speak Now," a nationwide voter-registration campaign; and "A Healthy BET," a multimedia motivational campaign and partnership with General Mills Inc. promoting healthy lifestyles and eating habits.