A major donor has redirected a nearly $5 million dollar gift to a South Coast university as a result of the pandemic.
Steven Dorfman gave California Lutheran University the money to build a new home for its School of Management. But, given the financial strain COVID-19 has created for many students, he and University President Lori Varlotta worked out a plan to shift the focus of the gift.
$1.2 million will be used for scholarships. The remaining $3.6 million will go to support startups with Cal Lutheran students and alumni, and to endow a professor’s position.
Dorfman was a longtime Hughes Corporation executive involved with a number of space exploration missions, as well as the creation of the Direct TV satellite service.
CLU is the parent of KCLU Radio.