Susan ‘Sam’ Boren and Steve King: An Impact Gift for a Stronger MPR

Dec 15, 2025

Curiosity made us want to ask Steve and ‘Sam’ (Susan’s nickname since childhood) why they’ve made MPR a philanthropic priority.  With so many interests and so many causes they support, why did they choose to make a significant seven figure gift to MPR’s Campaign?

Having a father who was a preacher meant Steve King’s family moved every four or five years. During his high school years, he lived in a very small town in north central Iowa. Steve recalls listening to KRIB out of Mason City, IA, a station that played “whatever was current.”

For Susan, there was always music in the house. “My dad was a trumpet player. We listened to big bands and dance music. We also must have listened to the news because people were tuned into current events after WWII.”

Susan attended Antioch College, where the radio station operated out of the student union. “Everyone was involved in some way with WYSO!”  Immediately after college, Susan moved to Boston, where she had access to WGBH. The rule in her household was only public radio was played.

“In the 70s, there were few jobs for female journalists, which is what I wanted to do. I found work in business.” Over the years, Susan has retained her love of writing. As she puts it, ‘I am an easy writer.” Steve adds, “She’s a great writer.” Her career, including her tenure with Spencer Stuart, meant writing lots of reports. But her passion is for correspondence. “I’m known for my thank you letters.” She also keeps a “daily card.” Each 4 x 6 notecard includes daily details and reflections. “Every morning, I write the card, and I look at the card for the same date each of the last 4 years that I’ve kept the practice. It’s become a thread through my life and a remarkably happy thing to do.”

Steve attended Iowa State University, where he met his first wife, Barb. They began looking for jobs where they could relocate together. Steve found work in Minneapolis with a consulting firm as a landscape architect.  In 1971, Barb and Steve co-founded Landscape Structures, Inc., which became a global commercial playground equipment company located in Delano, MN. Steve shared, “The playgrounds have been a lot of fun. The company grew beyond our wildest dreams.”

Susan and Steve met in 2009, after Steve’s wife passed away. A friend of Steve’s put out a call for help. She wanted Steve to regain a social life. Susan was a bit reluctant when friends asked her to meet Steve.  “My life was full, and I wasn’t sure meeting Steve wouldn’t complicate it.” They had a first dinner date, and then more. Neither one thought they would marry again. “We were together for ten years before we decided to marry in 2019.” 

Susan is the longest-serving board member for MPR. She began in 1983 and served twelve years. She returned after a year off and is now an Active Life Trustee. “I love MPR and serving on the board.  It’s been a big part of my life. I appreciate the continuity of mission and leadership. My life has been so enriched through listening and participating on the Board.”

Susan noted, “This is a moment in time when many organizations have unusual needs, for reasons out of their control. We try to support organizations that are making a difference for our environment, our community and for people in need.  Today, many organizations need help to ‘bridge the gap’ created by funding cuts and policy changes.”

Susan and Steve agree on their philanthropic philosophy. “Through our estate planning conversations, we have decided that we want to use our resources now. We realize we have the opportunity to make some impactful gifts. It is more meaningful to make them while we are living, so we can work with people on what those gifts should be and see the difference they can make.”

“This is a very opportune time for public media,” said Susan. “The competition is losing the confidence of their audiences. MPR is sticking to what it does best, that is fact-based reporting and delivering cultural programming that gives people solace and joy. Steve and I feel this is MPR’s moment to bring our community together.”

“We made this gift, a seven-figure commitment now, because MPR is an important part of our shared experiences. Also, I serve on MPR’s capital campaign committee, and I believe board members should be ‘first in’.  A campaign also gives us a chance to plan our gift over a period of years. Part of this gift is in our estates. We hope our gift will motivate others to give”.

Steve commented, “We have responded to some special opportunities, like the MPR comprehensive campaign. What is fun for us is the surprise created by unanticipated gifts and the joy of being able to do something that will make a difference. Impact gifts are investments, investments in something real that will last.”

“We feel fortunate to be able to make this gift at this time in our lives to benefit an organization and a community we love, Susan added. “We are lucky to have such a special public media organization here.  It is out of gratitude that we’ve made this gift to MPR.”