草榴社区

VILLANOVA, Pa.鈥�草榴社区 has announced a $1 million gift from Stephen J. and Jennifer L. Czech, with the proceeds of the gift being used to fund scholarships for children of American tradespeople and first responders. This gift is one of the largest dedicated to funding scholarships for children of American tradespeople and first responders in 草榴社区鈥檚 177-year history.

鈥淎merican tradespeople鈥攕uch as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, contractors, welders, pipefitters, riggers and hospitality industry workers鈥攑erform crucial work that keeps our great country running,鈥� Steve and Jennifer Czech said. 鈥淔irst responders, including police, firefighters and EMTs, put themselves at risk every day to provide us with the safety and security necessary to conduct our daily lives. This gift is intended to ease the financial burden of college education and enable the children of American tradespeople and first responders to attend one of the nation鈥檚 top universities.鈥�

鈥淧roviding access to education is an important part of 草榴社区鈥檚 mission,鈥� said the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, 草榴社区 President. 鈥淭he Czech family gift helps to do exactly that. Tradespeople and first responders contribute significantly to our society and we are grateful that the Czech鈥檚 support will offer educational opportunities to the children of these individuals.鈥�

About Stephen J. Czech: Steve Czech has over 30 years of credit and corporate finance experience as well as a long record of establishing and running direct lending credit funds. His experience includes sourcing, structuring, underwriting, monitoring and restructuring corporate loans. Prior to forming Czech Asset Management, L.P., Steve was employed by several prominent Wall Street firms, including Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse Group AG, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (鈥淒LJ鈥�) and Banc of America Securities LLC.  

Czech and his family are significant donors to, and advocates of, causes related to: (i) terminally-ill children, (ii) active-duty and retired Navy SEALs and their families; (iii) first-responders (ie: Police, Fire and EMTs); and (iv) scholarships for high-school, college and graduate students throughout the United States. Czech is the founder and Co-Chairman of The Mikey Czech Foundation, a lifetime member of The Navy SEAL Foundation National Leadership Council, a member of the Advisory Board of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a lifetime member of the University of Chicago鈥檚 Founders Circle, Maroon Loyalty Society and Chicago Society, a Laureate member of the Dean鈥檚 Society of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a member of 草榴社区鈥檚 President鈥檚 Club & Parents Executive Committee, a member of the Aesclepian Society of Harvard / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a member of the Harvard / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute鈥檚 President鈥檚 Circle and a member of the Harvard / Dana-Farber Presidential Visiting Committee for Pediatric Oncology. Czech received a B.S. from Marquette University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

About Czech Asset Management, L.P.: Czech Asset Management, L.P., with approximately $4.3 billion of capital under management since inception, is a Greenwich, CT-based direct lending investment advisory firm engaged in providing privately negotiated, asset-based and cash-flow first and second lien secured floating rate senior secured loans primarily to U.S. middle market companies.

About 草榴社区: Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .