Rising Heroes: Roberta and Greg Kahlert
“Now more than ever, we see health professionals for the true heroes that they are. We are proud to support a learning environment for TU’s faculty and emerging health providers that ensures they will thrive in their professions.”
Grant from the Kahlert Foundation will support Towson University’s preeminence in preparing teachers and health care professionals. The $3M gift continues tradition of support for TU.
The Kahlert Foundation has awarded Towson University a record-setting $3 million grant to provide support for major initiatives, advancing the university’s preeminence as a leader in preparing Maryland’s teachers and health care professionals.
This historic gift is the largest from a foundation with ties to a TU alum. Roberta Kahlert ’69 and her husband, Greg, both serve on The Kahlert Foundation board.
“For several years, Roberta and Greg Kahlert’s generous support has provided faculty with the resources to advance two major signature programs, Towson UTeach and English Language Learners, in support of the outstanding teacher preparation here at Towson University,” TU President Kim Schatzel says. “The Kahlerts’ gift will further the excellence of these programs and their legacy of generous support.”
The Kahlerts also extended their philanthropic impact at TU by providing support for the construction of the new College of Health Professions building. This 229,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art academic building, planned to open in 2024, will further Towson University’s leadership in providing more health care professionals than any other university in Maryland.
“Their gift will enhance excellence in academic programs and research,” President Schatzel says. “I am so grateful to Roberta and Greg and the Kahlert Foundation for their vision, partnership and extraordinary support.”
The grant designates $1.3 million for UTeach, $1 million for building construction and $700,000 for English Language Learners (ELL) initiatives. The Kahlert Foundation supports health care, youth programs, education, veteran organizations and human services in the mid-Atlantic area—foci that dovetail with TU’s mission as a leading national university serving the public good.
“In deciding where to make philanthropic investments, The Kahlert Foundation looks for visionary leadership and innovative programs that align with the foundation’s priorities. Towson University checks these boxes,” Greg, president of The Kahlert Foundation, says. “We are proud to fuel TU’s momentum.”
Supporting English Language Learners
The Kahlert Foundation’s support of ELL initiatives holds special meaning for Roberta, who recalls helping English learners throughout her 28-year teaching career in Baltimore County Public Schools.
“The greatest joy for a teacher is seeing the look on a child’s face when she or he perseveres and succeeds,” she says. “For children who are English learners, this success comes more easily when they have a teacher trained to meet their needs.”
“The greatest joy for a teacher is seeing the look on a child’s face when she or he perseveres and succeeds. For children who are English learners, this success comes more easily when they have a teacher trained to meet their needs.”
–Roberta Kahlert
Continuing long-standing support of TU
Since 2015, the Kahlert Foundation has gifted $930,000 for the Science Complex due to open in spring 2021, the Towson UTeach program and scholarships, ELL initiatives and improvements to the South Campus Fields project, bringing the foundation’s total support for TU to $3.93 million, including the most recent donation.
The Kahlert Foundation grant is the most recent in a series of seven-figure gifts secured by Towson University since the start of the fall term. Continuing the momentum of record fundraising, this autumn has included donations of $1 million from Tom Beyard ’77 and retired professor Eddie Loh, plus a record $5.3 million donation by Fran Soistman ’79.
