Philanthropist's zeal for Catholic schools earns national prize

Published: 2007-12-21

ATLANTA (CNS) -- Catholic education is the best vehicle for reinvigorating American culture, according to Frank J. Hanna III, an Atlanta businessman whose formula for effective charitable giving recently earned him the 2007 William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. "One of the most important things is to raise (children) well," said Hanna, who has focused his resources on K-12 Catholic education. "First and foremost we want to teach them truth, and we want to teach them virtue. I think Catholic schools are in a better position to teach about virtue." The Washington-based Philanthropy Roundtable administers the award honoring Simon, the late U.S. Treasury secretary and U.S. Olympic Committee president. The award recognizes living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through charitable giving. The recognition comes with a $250,000 cash award that Hanna will donate to Holy Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta, one of three independent Catholic schools he helped establish, and to the Federalist Society, a Washington-based nonprofit specializing in constitutional and legal issues.

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