The Dietrichs arranged to have a permanent endowment fund established upon their deaths to fund six of their charitable interests in perpetuity.  “Connie had a great love of reading and libraries,” said Jeff Pederson, planned giving officer with the Catholic Community Foundation.  “The Dietrichs requested that 40% of the grants from their endowment be given to public libraries in the State of Minnesota for capital improvements and other bricks and mortar needs.  Those grants may also be used to fund library infrastructure changes needed for technology improvements.” 

Other charitable interests benefiting from the Dietrichs’ endowment include St. Anne Catholic School in Le Sueur, the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, and other Archdiocesan Catholic Schools for both bricks & mortar improvements and for their libraries.

“With Connie and Bill’s deep roots in the Le Sueur community, it seemed especially fitting that the first grant from their endowment be given to the Friends of Le Sueur Public Library,” said Marilou Eldred, president of the Catholic Community Foundation.  “We are delighted to have been chosen by the Dietrichs to manage their endowment.  This grant demonstrates that even though we are a Catholic organization, our donors support a wide range of religious and civic institutions with their gifts.  The Dietrich’s decision to help public libraries will help improve access to books and information for all citizens.  Thanks to their generosity, the library here in Le Sueur will be able enhance its wonderful work in nurturing young readers and inspiring future generations to excel and achieve.” 

The Dietrich’s endowment was funded from the proceeds of a charitable remainder trust.  Jeff Pederson, who helped the Dietrichs with their gift plans, stated: “Charitable remainder trusts are a great philanthropic tool for donors who have appreciated assets to give – such as land or stock.  The assets can be used to fund the trust – providing the donor with significant tax benefits.  In addition, the trust is set up to pay the donors an income during their lifetimes.  Upon the donors’ deaths, the remainder of the trust is converted into a permanent endowment to provide financial support for the donors’ choice of charities year-after-year.”

“This is a true legacy gift,” said Eldred.  “By arranging to support their charitable interests in this way, William and Connie Dietrich will be fondly remembered for their generosity for generations to come.” 

ABOUT CORINNE J. DIETRICH: Corinne Jeanne "Connie" Dietrich was born on May 12, 1928 in Mapleton, Minnesota to William and Florence (Jorgensen) Borchert in Mapleton, Minnesota. She graduated as Valedictorian from Mapleton High School in 1946, Cum Laude from Macalester College in 1950 and attended the University of Minnesota, graduate school, College of Education from 1963 to 1964. She was a member of the Pi Gamma Mu Scholastic Society and the St. Paul Court of Honor. She taught at Truman High School from 1950 to 1952, West St. Paul from 1952 to 1955 and in Mendota Heights from 1957 to 1960. She married William C. Dietrich on October 3, 1964 in Nashua, Iowa. They lived in LeSueur where she was a co-founder of the Friends of the Library, president of the Women's Association at the LeSueur Country Club, member of the Minnesota Valley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was co-founder and past chairman of the Vision and Hearing Screening for 4 year olds in LeSueur. The couple retired to Minneapolis where she was a member of the Friends of the Library, Women's Club of Minneapolis and Twin Cities Women's Tennis League. She enjoyed reading, tennis, gardening, golf and bridge. She died at age 78 on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at her residence. She is survived by her step-children, Dolores Jeanne (Bruce) Donnelly of Barrington, IL and Mary Elizabeth (John) Siragusa of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; sisters, Emily Anne Dennison of Shoreview, MN and Phyllis Jacqueline Borchert of Faribault, MN; grandchildren, Diana and William Donnelly, Jack and Phillip Siragusa.

ABOUT WILLIAM C. DIETRICH: William C. Dietrich was born on March 16, 1932 in LeSueur, Minnesota to William F. and Dolores (Moran) Dietrich. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, PA, Cum Laude in 1950 and from the University of Minnesota in 1955 with a B. S. in Biochemistry. He married Corinne Jeanne Borchert on October 3, 1964 in Nashua, Iowa. He was employed from 1948 to 1978 with the Green Giant Company working at LeSueur and Beaver Dam, WI in Quality Control and ended in manufacturing and operations. In 1979 he became Senior Vice President of Operations and from 1980 to 1983 was Vice President of Operations for the Pillsbury Company. From 1983 to 1987 he was the Founder and Director of the Minnesota Trade Office and Minnesota Asst. Commissioner of Agriculture. He taught International Business from 1988 to 1991 at Mankato State University and did private consulting and investment activity from 1991 to 2000. He was on the Boards of Directors of Community Investment Enterprises, First State Bank of Apple Valley and KIDS, Inc. He was a former member of the Minnetonka Power Squadron, National Rifle Association and the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Civic and charitable organizations included the Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission and Basilica of St. Mary. He enjoyed the Minnesota Orchestra, reading, music, boating and shooting. William died on Sunday September 21, 2003 at age 71.  He is survived by daughters, Dolores Jean Donnelly of Barrington, IL and Mary Elizabeth Siragusa, Palm Beach Gardens, FL; grandchildren, Diana and William Donnelly, Jack and Phillip Siragusa; sister, Dolores McQuarrie of Edina; step-mother, Natalie Dietrich of Lauderdale-by- the-Sea, FL.

ABOUT THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: The Catholic Community Foundation (www.catholiccommunityfoundation.org) is the nation’s largest community foundation serving Catholic philanthropy.  The Foundation was established in 1992 to support financially the spiritual, educational and social needs of the Catholic community in the 12 county area of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.  The Foundation currently manages assets in excess of $182 million and has distributed more than $50 million in grants to the community since inception. 

The Foundation works with donors to help them capitalize on the benefits of charitable planned giving, including the ability to reduce their taxes, receive a life income from their gift and leave a legacy for generations to come.  More than 2,200 families have chosen to conduct their philanthropy with the Catholic Community Foundation by setting up donor advised funds, endowments, charitable gift annuities and trusts.