Czech Family Endows $1 Million Scholarship To Support Children Of American Tradesmen And First Responders At Villanova University

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Jan 23, 2020, 15:15 ET

OLD GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephen J. and Jennifer L. Czech announced a $1 million gift to Villanova University. The proceeds of the gift will be used to fund scholarships for children of American tradesmen and first responders. This gift is one of the largest dedicated to funding scholarships for children of American tradesmen and first responders in Villanova's 177-year history.

"American tradesmen—such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, contractors, welders, pipefitters, riggers and hospitality industry workers--perform back-breaking work that keeps our great country running," Steve and Jennifer Czech said. "First 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 tradesmen and first responders to attend one of the nation's top universities."

"Providing access to education is an important part of Villanova's mission and the Czech family gift helps to do exactly that," said the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, Villanova University President. "Tradesmen and first responders are great contributors to the fabric of our society—and our nation—so it is critical that we provide this kind of educational opportunity to them. Given the amount of sacrifice they make each and every day, this is a way we can pay it forward and ensure their children get the education they deserve."

About Stephen J. Czech

Mr. Czech has over 31 years of credit and corporate finance experience as well as a distinguished track record of establishing and running direct lending credit funds. Said experience includes sourcing, structuring, underwriting, monitoring and restructuring corporate loans. Prior to founding Czech Asset Management, L.P. ("Czech"), in December of 2011, Mr. Czech was Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of SJC Onshore Direct Lending Fund, L.P. and the SJC Offshore Capital Finance Fund, L.P. (collectively, "SJC"), a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Mr. Czech joined SJC in January 2010. Prior to joining SJC, Mr. Czech was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Gottex -SJC ("Gottex") from May 2009 to December 2009. Prior to joining Gottex, Mr. Czech was the founder, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Contrarian Capital Finance, L.P. ("Contrarian") from 2003 to 2008. During this period, Mr. Czech created and ran a direct lending fund in a nearly identical strategy to the current strategy he is now managing for CAM investors. Prior to joining Contrarian in 2003, Mr. Czech was employed by Credit Suisse First Boston ("CSFB"), where he was the head of the Mezzanine Finance Group from 2001 to 2003. Prior to CSFB, Mr. Czech was employed by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette ("DLJ") from 1998 to 2001. At DLJ, Mr. Czech was a member of the Leveraged Finance Group. Mr. Czech was also a Senior Credit Officer of ABN AMRO's Leveraged Finance Group and a Vice President at Banc of America Securities.

Mr. 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 underprivileged high-school students throughout the United States. Mr. 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's Founders Circle, Maroon Loyalty Society and Chicago Society, a Laureate member of the Dean's Society of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a member of Villanova University's President's 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's President's Circle and a member of the Harvard / Dana-Farber Presidential Visiting Committee for Pediatric Oncology.

Mr. Czech received a B.S. from Marquette University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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 ("DLJ") 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) tradesmen and 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's Founders Circle, Maroon Loyalty Society and Chicago Society, a Laureate member of the Dean's Society of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a member of Villanova University's President's 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's President's 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 and private credit 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 Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's 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—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation's top universities, Villanova supports its students' intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.

SOURCE Czech Asset Management, L.P.