John and Katie Anthony have made a significant gift to the University of Notre Dame to establish the Anthony Family Endowment for Culture, Diversity and Engagement in Athletics. The endowment will support the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives of the University’s Department of Athletics.
Last summer, Notre Dame student-athletes launched StaND Together, which strives to improve social justice by focusing on six main avenues for change: listen, amplify, focus, diversify, engage and vote. The Anthony’s gift will expand and enhance the StaND Together platform and commitment of Notre Dame Athletics to be a helpful force in the fight for social justice. Student-athletes, staff and the community will all benefit and grow through this initiative and endowment.
The Anthonys have a long history at Notre Dame. John earned three Monograms, and was a two-time National All-Academic Scholar, with the Fighting Irish men’s golf team before graduating in 1986 from the Mendoza College of Business. Katie is a Double Domer. She earned her undergraduate degree in 1985 from the Mendoza College of Business, and her MBA in 1996. Both of their fathers are Notre Dame graduates, and all four of their children – Paul ’15, Elizabeth ’16, Maria ’20 and Michael ’22 – are graduates or currently attend the University. Additionally, all of John’s and Katie’s siblings hold Notre Dame degrees.
“In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus talks about the traveler and the one who helped him, even though they were from different backgrounds,” the Anthony family said. “In our own lives of travel, we have grown immensely from relationships forged with friends across the world. Simply put, we know that the world is a better place when people of different cultures meet and interact. With our gift, we hope that Notre Dame student-athletes can connect, learn, teach and lead as Good Samaritans to each other, the community, and the world.”
John and Katie own Anthony Travel, which is the leading sports travel management company in the United States. The Anthonys, who reside in South Bend, Indiana and Naples, Florida, are longtime contributors to their alma mater. They are members of the University’s Badin Guild, President’s Circle and Athletics Director’s Circle.