Chrys Peterson - ToledoNewsNow.com: News, Weather & Sports for Toledo, OH

Chrys Peterson

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For 17 years, Chrys Peterson has been the face of WTOL news, anchoring the 5, 6 & 11 PM newscasts.

Chrys grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. She's currently finishing a Master's of Organizational Leadership degree at Lourdes College. 

Chrys is actively involved in breast cancer awareness projects. Since 1995 she has served as Honorary Chairperson for the Northwest Ohio Komen Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer. In that time, the event has grown from 600 to 18,000 participants. Chrys also spearheaded a campaign called "Friends for Life," a program that encourages monthly self-breast examination.   Chrys has won two prestigious Emmy Awards for Community Service for her breast cancer awareness campaign.

Chrys is also involved in many children's organizations. She produces a segment called "Home For Keeps" that airs Tuesdays during News 11 at 5. In each segment, we meet a child or sibling group waiting to be adopted. The program has helped find adoptive families for hundreds of foster children in Lucas County, and has raised awareness about the need for adoptive and foster parents in our community.

Chrys has received numerous honors for her work in the Toledo area community including the "Jefferson Award" the "Milestones" award, the "20 Under 40" award, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters "Hero" award, the "Women of Toledo" award the "Touchstone" award and the Golden Touchstone.  

Chrys has also been recognized for her news stories and her work at the anchor desk.  She received an Emmy Award in 2011 for her story "Behind the Badge" documenting the stress police officers endure on and off the job. She's received two coveted Edward R. Murrow awards for journalism, and several awards from the Associated Press including the 2011 Best Enterprise Reporting award.  She is a frequent emcee and speaker at community events.

Chrys' husband Tom Runnells is the bench coach for the Colorado Rockies baseball team.  They have one daughter, Riley, who's 11.

Before joining News 11, Chrys anchored the morning and noon newscasts at WNEP-TV, the ABC affiliate in Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, she anchored the 6 & 11 PM newscasts at WHSV-TV, the ABC affiliate in Harrisonburg, Virginia.