USC trustee Ken Klein and his wife, Natalie, co-chair of the advisory board for Classical KDFC Radio in San Francisco, have given $1 million to support the station. Their gift will provide initial funding for the station’s endowment as part of Classical KDFC’s $10 million "For the Music" campaign.
The Kleins’ gift is the largest single contribution ever received in the 66-year history of USC Radio, which purchased KDFC in 2011. USC Radio also owns Classical KUSC in Los Angeles. These stations are two of the largest and most listened to public radio and nonprofit classical music stations in the nation. More than one million Californians listen to USC Radio stations each week.
Klein is chairman, CEO and president of the software company Wind River, based in Alameda, which he joined in 2004, leading a turnaround that resulted in Wind River’s acquisition by Intel Corporation in 2009. "I care deeply about preserving classical music," Klein said. "I see the preservation of this station as linking what the university is doing with the arts to the needs of the Bay Area community, which is a very important community to USC in terms of incoming students and alumni. With its six arts schools and its incredible support of world-class classical music, USC and KDFC share a common love of the arts."