A Career of Giving

“I never played a game at the Rose Bowl,” said donor W. Robert “Bob” Kohorst, who along with his wife, Shelley Allen, recently pledged a significant foundational gift in support of their “neighborhood” stadium.

“I don’t have any great connections to the Rose Bowl in that sense,” he said in an exclusive interview with Pasadena Now. “It’s just a part of a past in history, and it felt like it was part of our life because we live in Linda Vista, so close to it.”

Their recent commitment is what is known as a “foundational gift” towards the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation’s “Lasting Legacy” capital campaign—essentially a substantial gift that will support other subsequent gifts.

“The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation Board of Directors and the entire nationwide donor base thanks Bob and Shelley for their incredible commitment to the Rose Bowl Stadium’s first-ever capital campaign,” said Mickey Segal, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Legacy Foundation, himself a longtime supporter and donor to the stadium.

“The generosity of the Kohorst Family over the years and through this major commitment has been a key reason why the trajectory of America’s Stadium continues to skyrocket,” Segal added.

The Legacy Foundation was founded in 2010 to preserve, protect and enhance the future of the Rose Bowl Stadium as a National Historic Landmark, and recently announced a two-phase, $80 million campaign to upgrade the historic stadium.

“I just think it’s a great historical institution for our city,” said Kohorst, “and it adds a lot of civic pride, and we all need to help preserve and enhance the facility so that it continues for our next generations where we can have this great symbol of Pasadena.”

“It makes you feel good saying, ‘I live in Pasadena and it’s the home of the Rose Bowl.’”

The couple’s generous gift will help fund a new Field Club project slated for the Stadium’s south end zone as part of the campaign’s first phase.

“With the preparations underway for the 2028 Olympic Games in the Los Angeles area,” added Kohorst, “our family is honored to support the Lasting Legacy capital campaign which will play a pivotal role in ensuring that America’s Stadium is ready for a global spotlight while strengthening its importance to Pasadena and beyond.”

The Kohorsts have served as both major donors and as active participants on the non-profit’s Board of Directors and Advisory Boards.

Since its founding, the Legacy has raised and stewarded more than $60 million in gross gifts and pledges from private philanthropists around the country, estate giving, and government support at the state and federal levels.

The stadium continues to host the Rose Bowl Game as well as the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal game and is home for the Big Ten Conference’s UCLA Bruins.

“Foundational gifts are imperative to the success and momentum of major campaigns,” said Dedan Brozino, president of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation. “Bob and Shelley have always set the most positive tone for Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley by supporting so many community initiatives with kindness and generosity.”

The lounge inside of the new Field Club project will bear the Kohorst family’s name, along with recognition on a prominent donor wall as part of the club’s indoor-outdoor design, although Bob is adamant that their gift is more to do with supporting the stadium, than seeing their name on the field.

As Bob explained, gifts of this size are usually named for the donors, in order to attract other, like-minded donors who might enjoy having their names associated with the historic stadium.

“Years ago, probably 10 years ago,” he recalled, “we built a football field at LaSalle High School and they wanted to name it Kohorst Field. And I said, ‘No, I feel awkward doing that.’ But, eventually they talked me into it. So, LaSalle High School’s field is called Kohorst Field, though I still feel a little bit, almost embarrassed when I see my name there.”

Married for 43 years, Bob and Shelley have lived in Pasadena for nearly fifty years. Bob grew up in Pasadena and attended La Salle High School. He holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Dayton and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Following law school, he served as a law clerk for Judge Albert Engel on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Shelley graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Education and has long been involved in community volunteerism within schools and local charity groups in the greater Pasadena area. Together, the Kohorsts built their company, Everest Properties, a real estate investment firm with properties throughout the U.S.

The Kohorst family previously supported several key community organizations including Huntington Hospital, Cancer Support Community, LaSalle High School and countless others.

“My brothers and I were all active in sports,” Kohorst said, “and our kids were active in sports, and our grandchildren are also active. So I like (to support) institutions like the Rose Bowl, and high school and college sports. We also tend to give to educational institutions and the local hospitals because we think healthcare is important for everybody.

“So we have a little bit of a target,” he continued, “giving to things that benefit the local community, and that are either sports, education or health-related.”

Kohorst has long been recognized for his contributions to public service organizations and education as Director and past Chairman of the Young Presidents’ Organization (San Gabriel Valley Chapter), Regent of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, Trustee of La Salle High School in Pasadena, California, and Director and Past President of the San Gabriel Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was recently honored by the University of Dayton as its Distinguished Alumni of the Year.

From 2018 to 2021, Kohorst served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia.

Serving as the Chief of Mission at Embassy Zagreb, Ambassador Kohorst was responsible for a staff of 225 embassy employees and for representing the interests of the United States throughout Croatia. At the conclusion of his term, the President of Croatia, with the concurrence of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented Ambassador Kohorst with the Order of Duke Branimir medal for excellence in promoting international relations.