Fritz B. Burns Foundation Awards Thomas Aquinas College $7 Million Grant

Marking the latest chapter in a friendship that spans more than half a century, the Fritz B. Burns Foundation of Los Angeles has awarded Thomas Aquinas College with a three-part grant worth $7 million.

“It is rare to find a philanthropic partner that so deeply understands both the immediate needs and the long-term vision of an institution,” reflects College President  Paul J. O’Reilly. “The leadership at the Fritz B. Burns Foundation values our unique program of Catholic liberal education and has stood by us as we have grown over the years. The Foundation’s most recent gift not only invests in our students but positions us to welcome even more friends into the life of the College.”

“The leadership at the Fritz B. Burns Foundation values our unique program of Catholic liberal education and has stood by us as we have grown over the years.”

Under the terms of the grant, the Foundation will provide Thomas Aquinas College with $4 million in unrestricted funds for operations and student financial aid. Of the remaining $3 million, two-thirds will serve as seed money for a chaplains’ residence and retreat house on the California campus, and one-third will pay for extensive renovations in the student residence halls.

“When we met with the directors of the Fritz B. Burns Foundation, they asked what the College needs right now,” explains Dr. O’Reilly. “This year, we had a few longer-term, unfunded projects to address, but our most pressing need was for operating funds to help cover financial aid and other expenses for our growing student body. The Foundation understood our needs and made sure that we could develop a plan to meet all short-term obligations while also ensuring long-term sustainability.”

Ever since the College’s founding in 1971, the Fritz B. Burns Foundation has made ever-greater grants in aid of Thomas Aquinas College and its students. The Foundation funded construction of St. Junipero Serra residence hall, Albertus Magnus Science Hall, and St. Thomas Hall (faculty and administration), as well as, more recently, St. Gladys Hall (classrooms), St. Cecilia Lecture and Concert Hall, and the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center on the California campus. Five years ago, it also established the Fritz B. Burns Endowed Scholarship, which supports the College’s nationally recognized financial aid program.

The Burns Foundation’s newest grant builds upon this history of generosity and strategic investment. “The $2 million gift toward construction of a priests’ residence and retreat house will enable us to furnish suitable housing for our chaplains and extend campus hospitality to even more visitors,” says Vice President for Advancement John J. Goyette. “Additionally, its $1 million contribution to renovate the en suite bathrooms in our oldest residence halls and replace outdated air-conditioning units will significantly enhance the daily lives of our students and the comfort of our summer conference guests.”

Repairs to the residence halls will take place during students’ summer vacation, and construction of the priestly residence and retreat center will begin upon the completion of plans and permitting requirements. “It’s a blessing to carry on our daily work in service of our students while, at the same time, make plans for the long-term future of the College,” adds President O’Reilly. “Demonstrating both prudence and loyalty, the Fritz B. Burns Foundation has been a steadfast friend for many years, and we are profoundly grateful for its continued generosity.”