The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has received $5 million from the Kelben Foundation to establish scholarships and pay for faculty and staff in its business, education and entrepreneurship schools.
The Kelben is a family foundation established by Mary and Ted Kellner in the 1980s. Ted Kellner is an entrepreneur who founded Fiduciary Management Inc. and Fiduciary Real Estate Development Inc.
Mary Kellner is the president of the foundation and an education advocate. She earned her master’s degree in educational psychology in 1978 at UWM’s School of Education.
“I could not be more grateful to the Kelben Foundation and our friends Mary and Ted Kellner,” said UWM Chancellor Mark Mone in a statement. “They are among our most generous donors, and their passionate support of education and entrepreneurship at UWM is steering these signature programs in a positive direction. The Kellners are helping us prepare educators and entrepreneurs who will shape the future of our region and propel Milwaukee forward.”
UWM will use the money to establish a chair in educational psychology, create scholarships for students enrolled in the early childhood education and investment management programs and support faculty and staff at the Lubar Center for entrepreneurship.
“I’ve always seen UWM as a gem in the community,” Mary Kellner said in a statement. “Through this gift, Ted and I want to help UWM continue to train counselors who will give children hope for the future.”
Ted Kellner said the couple views the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship as a key component in shaping Milwaukee’s future.
“We believe entrepreneurship is critically important to the health of our city, and we want to give the center’s faculty the tools they need to be successful in this endeavor,” he said.
