Its mission is to reach out to students by providing hands-on opportunities for them and their teachers in order to help prepare them for a future in television. NATPE’s Educational Foundation, underwritten by membership fees and the support of sponsors and special endowments, provides a number of annual fellowship, grants and prizes to the academic community. Lew Klein, one of the founders of NATPE and an early president of the organization, continues his dedication to the association as president of the Educational Foundation. In 2011, NATPE acquired DISCOP EAST and renamed the event NATPE||Budapest. The market primarily covers the Central and Eastern Europe television industry. NATPE Budapest 2013 was held at the Sofitel Chain Bridge Hotel in Budapest, Hungary, from June 24–27, 2013.