Jerry and Mary Ann Hubbs' sense of philanthropy comes from a place of gratitude. Jerry grew up in Louisville, KY, being educated by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in grade school and the Xaverian brothers at St. Xavier High School. Mary Ann was educated by Ursuline nuns from grade school through college.

"We're forever grateful for our education, both high school and college, that allowed us to have the resources to make donations," explains Jerry. "Of course, we always have felt that the priests, brothers, and religious are part of who we are today. The Ursuline Sisters for my wife and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth for myself, with that early childhood development. We're very grateful for that."

His parents instilled a life-long sense of giving at a young age. They would encourage him to always put something in his Sunday envelopes at church each week, even just a nickel.

"And the good sisters were always speaking about helping the missions. I especially remember giving to a collection in 1954 for a National Cathedral in Washington D.C., which was finally built, and I have visited it several times."

His connection to Saint Meinrad was also instilled at a young age. For him, it's about his family history and early childhood memories.

His grandfather, Charles F. Hubbs, attended Jasper College, Jasper, IN, in the early 1900s. The College was operated by the Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad from 1889-1933. Charles lived in Tell City, IN, but had family who lived in Jasper.

His grandfather used to bring him to campus when he was a child for the summer picnics that were held in front of the Archabbey Church and seminary buildings.

Jerry also had two cousins who attended Saint Meinrad High School and another, Br. René Bouillon, OSB, who was a monk of Saint Meinrad. He remembers coming to campus with his cousins a couple of times.

"There was a lake right down below where the library is," he recalls. "and there was a swing where you could climb up on a ladder and swing out and drop in the water."

After high school, he went to the University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1964, and a master's in 1976. He was also commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps in 1964.

He served two years of active duty in San Diego, CA, and one year in Da Nang, Vietnam. After active duty, Jerry returned to Louisville and began a 35-year career working in engineering roles for Brown-Forman Corporation. He traveled worldwide looking for distillery and bottling machinery.

"I stayed in the Naval Reserve for 22 years, so I had a full Navy career and a full working career too." says Jerry.

As Jerry and Mary Ann began to have the resources, they started giving to places they believed in and were grateful for. That included Saint Meinrad.

When his father, Clarence Hubbs, passed away in 1992, he and Mary Ann decided to start an endowment in memory of Clarence and his grandfather, Charles.

"I thought of the connection here and I thought it would be a fitting tribute to him and my grandfather to establish an endowment in their names," says Jerry.

He decided to set-up an endowment to provide scholarships to lay students. Once or twice a year he will receive a note in gratitude for the financial aid.

"It's nice to know it's really helping a given person," says Jerry. "If you just donate to the School, you don't know whether it pays the water bill or electric bill, but if you know it's helping somebody and you get a little feedback on that, that makes you feel good."