Gift in Honor of Parents Jeanne and the Late John H. Lechleiter
(Louisville, Ky.) – The Catholic Education Foundation of Louisville (the “Foundation”) announced today that the nine children of Jeanne and the late John H. Lechleiter, along with their spouses, have agreed to donate $1 million in support of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville.
The Lechleiter siblings and their spouses are: John and Sarah Lechleiter of Indianapolis; Barbara and Doug McGrath of Simpsonville, SC; Paul and Maureen Lechleiter of Cincinnati; Rich and Janice Lechleiter of Louisville; Bruce and Annette Lechleiter of Dayton, OH; Donald (Dino) and Nanci Lechleiter of Alpharetta, GA; Nancy and Mike Meurer of Cincinnati; Alice and Dan Sheehan of Louisville; and Jeannie and Dr. Pat Donovan of Louisville.
All of the funds associated with this gift will be used to provide financial assistance to families who cannot afford the full cost of Catholic elementary school tuition. It is expected that the funding of this gift will occur over a five-year period.
John C. Lechleiter, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, commented, “We could not be more pleased to make this gift to the Foundation to help ensure the great gift of Catholic education for more young families across central Kentucky. The tremendous sacrifices made by our parents to educate all of their children in Catholic schools was their greatest gift to each of us.”
Richard A. Lechleiter, President of the Foundation, added, “Our Catholic education was an experience that defined our futures in many ways and provided a spiritual path that has largely contributed to any success that we have had in our lives. Now, it is time to repay this gift so that others may have access to this same educational experience that truly lasts a lifetime.”
Archbishop of Louisville Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. expressed his deep gratitude to the Lechleiter family. “For many years, the Lechleiter family has been a great benefactor to the mission of the Foundation. This wonderful gift to Catholic education from the Lechleiter siblings and their spouses is a fitting tribute to Jeanne and John Lechleiter in their lifelong work to raise their family in the Catholic faith through our exceptional schools. I know that our entire community joins me in thanking the Lechleiter family for this special gift that will benefit so many.”
Foundation Board Chair David P. Calzi commented, “On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank the Lechleiters for their long-standing commitment to Catholic education across the Archdiocese of Louisville. This major gift will provide a huge lift to thousands of young students and their families who yearn for a Catholic elementary school experience but cannot afford it. What a difference it will make for our community!”
All of the Lechleiter children attended St. Stephen Martyr Elementary School, while the five brothers graduated from Saint Xavier High School and the four sisters are graduates of Sacred Heart Academy. All of the Lechleiter siblings are college graduates.
Mrs. Lechleiter, an active member of St. Stephen Martyr parish for over 60 years, enjoys spending time with her 27 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
About the Catholic Education Foundation
For over 200 years, Catholic schools have contributed significantly to the social, spiritual and economic fabric of our entire community. The Catholic Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the growth and vitality of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Since 1999, the Foundation has awarded over $19 million in support of Catholic education. Visit the Foundation at www.ceflou.org.
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