ABOUT
DR. LESLIE KOEHLINGER RUSS,

RUSS KOEHLINGER FOUNDATION (RKF):
Co-Founder, President
INDIANA MUSICAL THEATRE FOUNDATION (IMTF):
Co-Founder, Director, Officer
RKF STUDIOS:
Developer, Impact Investor

The RKF mission is to help build community resilience and cultural
acuity through arts-based impact investing. With the Covid-19 health
crisis brought unprecedented human isolation and the shuttering of
schools and performance venues. RKF responded through the aggressive
and timely development of education, rehearsal, and performance
spaces, developing RKF Studios at the height of the pandemic and
opening its doors to best-in-breed artistic educators and talented
performers of all ages.

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Leslie’s passion to serve Fort Wayne stems from a desire to give back to
the community that gave her an enriched and grounded childhood
experience. Through her philanthropy, Leslie brings an entrepreneurial
triple threat advantage to Fort Wayne performing arts projects by

combining experience and skills as an entrepreneur, manager, and as a
trained vocal and instrumental artist. She has held executive level
positions in Fortune 500 companies, served as a director on numerous
boards both in California, Texas, and Indiana, and believes in life-long
learning. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from DePauw
University, studied vocal performance under Metropolitan Opera diva
and jazz recording artist, Eileen Farrell, at Indiana University’s Jacobs
School of Music Master’s Degree program, holds a Master of Business
Administration in entrepreneurship and high tech from San Jose State
University, and obtained her Ph.D. in Global Leadership from the
Indiana Institute of Technology. A proud South Side High School grad,
Dr. Koehlinger Russ was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award
for her philanthropic endeavors.

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For more information on how you or your company can become an
Impact Investor in RKF’s efforts to renovate historical theatre space for
our local talent, please

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CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE RUSS KOEHLINGER FOUNDATION THEATRE RENOVATION FUND

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The Russ Koehlinger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization in the State of Indiana. Your financial contributions are tax-deductible.