Endowment Funds 

In addition to raising annual funds for Tuition Assistance Grants and general operations, the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundation  manages and raises money for many endowment funds.  The principal of these funds is held in perpetuity and a portion of the investment earnings are distributed on an annual basis. The earnings are used to support the Foundation program or activity designated by the donor in the endowment fund agreement.  In most cases, the Foundation’s endowment funds were established to honor or memorialize a donor’s family member. Some endowments were created by and named for the donor him or herself.

The current minimum commitment for a named endowment fund is $25,000¹. To establish an endowment fund during the donor’s lifetime, the gift may be made in installments within five years. Named endowments may also be established through a documented estate gift to the Foundation (the Foundation is named in the donor’s will or trust documents, or the Foundation is listed as the beneficiary on a life insurance policy, retirement fund, or other investment vehicle). Donors who make the commitment of a future gift are recognized for that gift today.

The Foundation's donor-established endowment funds are listed below. Anyone may make a gift to any of the funds that fit her or his philanthropic priorities. The family will be notified of this gift, whenever possible. If you would like to honor or memorialize a loved one, an influential teacher or pastor, or even yourself, please contact the Foundation office at 517-485-8333. Our staff would be pleased to answer any questions and offer suggestions to help make this type of legacy gift a possibility for you and those you wish to recognize.

Harry & Elaine Bannasch Family Fund: Established by Elaine Bannasch in the name for her late husband Harry and herself.  Supports need-based tuition assistance at both Lansing Catholic High School and Resurrection school on an equal basis.

Helen & Vincent Czecha Scholarship Fund: Established by Stephen & Faith Czecha in the memory of Stephen’s parents who were devout Catholics and extremely active at St. Casimir Parish and with many Catholic charities and groups. Supports need-based tuition assistance for students from St. Casimir.

Cathy DeRose Math Fund: Established by Frank DeRose, Jr. to honor his wife Cathy’s over 24 years of dedicated service as a math educator at St. Thomas Aquinas School. At the St. Thomas Aquinas’s principal’s discretion, this fund supports the purchase of math classroom aids, textbooks and need-based scholarships for students that either excel or need extra assistance in their math studies.

John & Frances Fuller Scholarship Fund: Established through an estate gift made by Mrs. Frances Fuller. Provides a college scholarship for a Lansing Catholic High School graduating senior who excels in English and the writing arts.

Tom Guerre Memorial Fund: Established by Tom’s father, George Guerre, after Tom’s unexpected death. Supports tuition scholarship for an eighth grader at St. Thomas Aquinas who demonstrates exemplary Christian values and good sportsmanship in the classroom and on the playing field.

Holy Cross Crusaders Scholarship Fund: Established with funds remaining after the closure of Holy Cross Parish, through a gift from St. Mary Cathedral. Supports need-based tuition assistance for students at IHM-St. Casimir School, Lansing Catholic High School and Resurrection School.

Russell R. & Kathryn L. Haar Memorial Fund: Established through an estate gift made by Mr. & Mrs. Russell Haar. Provides annual scholarships for students at Lansing Catholic High School and may be awarded based on the academic ability and need of the students.

John Paul II Fund: Established by the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundations with the principal contributed by the John Paul II Donor Society members. The goal for this fund is $1 million. Once fully funded it will provide support for major activities of the Foundation, as determined by the Board of Trustees, in keeping with the Foundation’s bylaws and mission.

Dr. G. Marion Kinget Fund: Established through an estate gift made by Dr. G. Marion Kinget. Supports the library of spiritual resources, Kairos Retreat Program, and faculty Lay Ministry Program, all at Lansing Catholic High School.

Edward J. Kremer Scholarship Fund: Established by Keith and Mary (Kremer) Rathbun in memory of Mary’s father. Supports need-based tuition assistance for a student at Lansing Catholic High School.

Jacob & Alice Miller Fund: Established by Stephen & Faith (Miller) Czecha in memory of Faith’s parents who were devout Catholics and active members of Holy Cross Parish and many other charitable organizations. Originally established for tuition support at Holy Cross School, the fund now supports need-based tuition grants at schools throughout the Foundation’s service area.

Earl and Jane (Walker) Murphy Fund: Established by Monsignor Michael Murphy and his siblings in memory of their parents devotion to their Catholic faith and commitment to Catholic education. Supports need-based tuition assistance at schools throughout the Foundation’s service area.

Bishop James A. Murray Fund: Established by Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Simon of Grand Ledge to honor Bishop Murray’s work with the  Diocese of Lansing before his installation as Bishop of Kalamazoo. Supports the Elizabeth Ann Seton Gifted Educator Award.

Endowed Fund for Resurrection School: Established by Resurrection Parish, expendable amounts from this endowment are used as follows. The first $1,000 is used for, at the principal’s discretion, one or a combination of the following school programs: Music/Drama, Science, Technology and/or Physical Education. Amounts available in addition to the first $1,000 will be used to provide $500 scholarships to Resurrection School families.

Alfreda Schmidt Scholarship: Established by friends and colleagues upon Alfreda Schmidt’s  retirement from Lansing City Council. Supports a scholarship for an IHM family whose child continues in Catholic school beyond grade five.

Fr. John Weber Fund: Established through an anonymous gift in memory of Fr. Weber, long-time pastor of St. Gerard Parish. Supports need-based tuition assistance scholarships throughout the region.

¹The current minimum commitment was established by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2008. It is in keeping with similarly sized organizations. Most funds detailed above were established before this minimum was instituted, however, many meet or exceed that threshold.