Nearly a decade ago, after years of notable success as an executive but finding himself distanced from his alma mater, David Klein ’85 was drawn back into Geneseo’s orbit. A fraternity brother who served on the Geneseo Foundation Board invited him back to campus for a drink.
“I hadn’t been in touch with anyone from Geneseo for a while,” Klein reflects. “I just went back for a beer; it wasn’t supposed to be more than that.” Fast-forward 10 years, and that casual rendezvous evolved into a position on the Foundation Board and philanthropic generosity toward Geneseo and its students.
At the time of his appointment to the Geneseo Foundation Board in 2018, Klein served as CFO of Constellation Brands, Inc. Recognizing the unique qualities inherent in Geneseo graduates—described by Klein as “scrappy, driven, and humble”—he created an internship program at Constellation Brands for students in the School of Business. His insights into the potential of Geneseo alums in the professional world compelled him to provide students with practical opportunities to apply their skills in a real-world business environment.
“Geneseo graduates are as smart as anyone I know,” says Klein. “There’s just something special about what the school produces.”
While Geneseo is known for producing high-caliber graduates, Klein—now CEO of Canopy Growth Corporation—knows that enrolling in college, let alone graduating, is not an equal opportunity for all students. In 2024, he established the David Klein ’85 Scholarship Fund. The scholarship covers full tuition for five students in the Multicultural Fellows Program, which provides financial resources and a mentorship program to help level the playing field for students from disenfranchised backgrounds. Specifically, the program seeks to support high-achieving students from underrepresented communities in higher education.
“What I like about the [Multicultural Fellows] program is that it’s not just letting people into the school and providing financial support,” says Klein. “It’s actively helping them transition to college because students who don’t have a support network or family who have previously attended college don’t necessarily have that guidance.”
Klein’s gift aligns with Geneseo’s mission as a public honors college. The college seeks to provide an inclusive and accessible education that supports and challenges its students to engage deeply with professors and their peers.
“It’s important to give Geneseo the tools to compete for students who meet all the criteria of a Geneseo student but require financial assistance,” Klein says. “I choose to help current students afford and succeed at Geneseo right now because it’s my version of a ‘pay it forward’ mentality. You can change people’s lives today and know they will do so when it’s their turn.”
