Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication has announced a $1.5 million gift from Kal and Lucille Rudman, the latest in a series of transformative gifts from the philanthropists to support the growth of student opportunities at TUTV.
“Few people have had as significant an effect on our college as Kal and Lucille Rudman, whose support has enabled hundreds of students to have access to life-changing and career-making opportunities. Their ongoing commitment to helping educate the next generation of media professionals is truly remarkable,” said Klein College Dean David Boardman.
The gift, made in the form of a five-year pledge, will support future projects at the station, including student coverage of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, a full slate of student-produced news, sports and entertainment programming, as well as the opportunity to expand to new, state-of-the-art facilities.
“Through their extraordinary generosity and their deep belief in our mission, Kal and Lucille Rudman have opened an amazing world of possibilities to our talented students. We could not be more appreciative,” said TUTV General Manager Paul Gluck.
The Rudmans previously gave $2.2 million to support TUTV, including an initial $1.2 million gift to establish the Kal and Lucille Rudman Media Production Center and to launch TUTV in 2009. Their subsequent gifts to the station have helped to fund some of the college’s most ambitious and successful student projects, including live coverage of the 2012 Olympics in London and the visit of Pope Francis and the Democratic National Convention, both held in Philadelphia in 2016.
They recently made an $80,000 gift to the university’s College of Public Health, to establish the Kal and Lucille Rudman Nursing Practice Scholarship Fund. The college will administer eight $10,000 scholarships to support exceptional graduate students who are enrolled in the college’s doctor of nursing program and who have demonstrated a commitment to becoming an advanced practice nurse.
“Lucille and I believe that it’s important to support the next generation of media professionals. We looked at the exciting work being done in the TUTV studios at Temple’s Klein College and we knew we wanted to continue to help those extraordinary students as they begin their journey to success,” Rudman said.
New facilities to support TUTV at the Kal and Lucille Rudman Media Center will include an exhibition celebrating Kal’s contributions to the broadcast world. Before becoming a full-time philanthropist, Rudman was known for his work as a Top 40 disc jockey and for being the first rhythm and blues editor and columnist at Billboard Magazine. In 1968, he founded FridayMorning Quarterback, an influential music trade magazine. His ability to predict top hits earned him the nickname, “The Man with the Golden Ears,” which led him to multiple appearances on “The Merv Griffin Show,” “The Today Show” and “The Tomorrow Show” with Tom Snyder. Many will also recognize him as a color announcer for what was then known as the World Wrestling Foundation. Rudman was also honored in 2017 as the first recipient of the Klein College Tribute Award.
The gift will be celebrated at an invitation-only event at TUTV studios later this month.
