Art of Aging: The Kal and Lucille Rudman Foundation

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Thursday, August 24, 2017
Art of Aging: The Kal and Lucille Rudman Foundation
Art of Aging: The Kal and Lucille Rudman Foundation - Tamala Edwards reports during Action News at noon on August 24, 2017.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Kal and Lucille Rudman are famous for their philanthropy.

We take a look back at how the music maven made his fortune and why, in retirement, the couple has decided to give it away.

Kal has always had an ear for picking the music that would become top hits. In 1968, he started his "Friday Morning Quarterback," a trade magazine that became the pop music Bible locally and nationally.

"I've been on the air in Philadelphia from the time I was 15 years of age," he said.

But the 87-year-old music and show business legend actually began his career as a teacher. So when he and his wife, Lucille, started The Kal and Lucille Rudman Foundation, education was a key focus.

Most recently, they underwrote a summer program at Rowan University called RAISE, preparing 25 South Jersey high school students for a career in medicine.

"This program just gets you hands on experience and it makes you feel like you're a college student," said Taylor Smith, a senior at Pope Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

"Now after the program, I'm really interested in becoming a neurosurgeon," said senior, Marc Marisco.

"Without the Rudmans, their sponsorship and their generosity, this program wouldn't have taken place," said Paula Watkins, Assistant Dean for Admissions at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Asked why they do what they do, Kal says simply: "Because I can and because that's what I wanted to do with my money and that's the way I was born and raised by my parents."

Kal is the son of a North Philadelphia grocer who funded his college education by earning scholarships and fellowships.

"We both had some help along the way from other people and we felt that we would like to give others the opportunity that we had," said Lucille.

And by giving back, they hope to inspire others to do the same.

"One of the best things that we get out of it is the thank you from young people who have been through the program and they are motivating for us to want to keep doing this," said Lucille.

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