Kao Family Donates River Falls Home to UW-River Falls

Sept. 19, 2011—Charles and Anne Kao announced the donation of their River Falls residence to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls at a ceremony held on the UWRF campus Friday. The home will be used as an international center and temporary residence for visiting scholars.

Charles Kao is the founder and chairman of the Commonwealth Publishing Company in Taipei, Taiwan. He taught in the Department of Economics at UWRF from 1964-98 and served as department chair from 1971-80. Kao was named the UWRF Distinguished Teacher in 1974.

Earlier this year, the Kaos established the Charles Kao Faculty Development Fund at UWRF. Through this fund, the College of Business and Economics will receive $25,000 per year from the Kaos to support faculty development.

These recent gifts, combined with their past support of the university, make the Kaos the most generous living donors to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

"Dr. Charles and Anne Kao have had a tremendous impact on UW-River Falls," says Dean Van Galen, UW-River Falls chancellor. "Through their generous gifts, they have supported excellence within the College of Business and Economics and have helped UWRF build international relationships to support the university's goal of global engagement. We are truly honored by their support."

Photo Caption:  UWRF Chancellor Dean Van Galen and his wife, Mary, present Charles and Anne Kao with a plaque commemorating the donation of their home to the university. An identical plaque will be mounted in the Kao home.