Creating a Legacy for Future Generations

The Kitchin family has been steadfast advocates of Catholic education and Marist School for over three decades. Their involvement began in 1992, when they moved to Atlanta from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their older children (Craig Kitchin, Thomas "Jeff" Kitchin, and Matt Kitchin) had already graduated from high school, but Tom Kitchin and his late wife, Judy, enrolled their three youngest- Alexander Kitchin '93, John Kitchin '98, and Karen Kitchin Groslimond '01 - at Marist. Over the years that followed, the entire Kitchin family became woven into the fabric of the Marist community. Their connection grew stronger as they developed a close friendship with Fr. James Hartnett, S.M., the respected former president of Marist School.

Fr. Hartnett encouraged the Kitchins' active participation at Marist and introduced them to the importance of philanthropy in sustaining the Marist mission. Tom made a leadership gift and served as a campaign volunteer for Marist's Second Century Campaign, which made a transformative impact on the school's campus. "It was meaningful, not just to my children and grandchildren, but to all Marist students and to future generations," Tom reflected. Marist's softball facility, Kitchin Field, is named in honor of the family's generosity. Tom served on the Marist School Board of Trustees from 1997 until 2006.

To date, five of Tom Kitchin's grandchildren have graduated from Marist: Craig and Becki's children William "MacKenzie" Kitchin '11, Madeleine "Maddie" Kitchin '13, and Mary Kathryn Kitchin '16 and Jeff and Nicole's children Reagan Kitchin '21 and Clara "Riley" Kitchin '23. "It's nice to have that legacy continue, and I hope it will go on for a long time," Tom Kitchin shared.

In 1995, Tom joined the Heritage Circle by generously naming Marist as a beneficiary of a new whole-life insurance policy. He later gifted the policy to the school, and he continues to make tax-deductible gifts to Marist annually to pay the policy's premiums. Upon his death, the policy will pay out a significant amount to the school. Through this unique giving vehicle, Tom is leveraging his annual contributions to create a legacy that will impact future generations of Marist students.

Tom encourages supporters of Marist to consider giving back to Marist in this way. "In so many cases, when a person is young and raising a family, they acquire life insurance so their family is safe if something happens to them. As years go by, that purpose is no longer in play. It's an easy way to provide for the future growth of a school like Marist," Tom explains. Planned gifts such as this add to Marist's endowment, which supports the excellence and accessibility of the Marist educational experience for generations to come.

Marist School is deeply grateful for Tom Kitchin's thoughtful gift of a life insurance policy. In this newsletter, we invite you to explore opportunities to support Marist through a beneficiary designation gift.