Kavanagh Education Trust
The Kavanagh Brothers: Founders of a Legacy
Joseph J. Kavanagh, Eugene W. Kavanagh, and Lloyd R. Kavanagh were born to William and Rose Kavanagh on a modest farm in Greene County, Ohio. Growing up during the Great Depression, the three brothers witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by farming families and understood that education was the key to unlocking opportunity.
Despite the economic hardships of their youth, each brother pursued higher education with determination and graduated from college—a remarkable achievement for their time and circumstances. Their education opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed, allowing them to build successful careers and prosperous lives far beyond what seemed possible in their early years.
The brothers never forgot where they came from or the transformative power of the education they received. In 1986, motivated by gratitude and a deep desire to help others in their family achieve similar success, they established the Kavanagh Education Trust. The trust was later reconstituted in 2002 to ensure its continuity for generations to come.
Joseph, Eugene, and Lloyd believed that education was more than a pathway to personal success—it was a means of reaching one's greatest potential and contributing to a better world. Through the Kavanagh Education Trust, they created a lasting legacy that continues to empower their descendants to pursue their dreams, overcome obstacles, and carry forward the family's commitment to learning and excellence.
Mission Statement
The Kavanagh Education Trust empowers descendants of William and Rose Kavanagh to pursue higher education by providing meaningful financial assistance. Guided by the belief that education unlocks human potential and creates positive change, we invest in family members who earnestly seek to better themselves and their communities through learning.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Kavanagh Education Trust is to provide financial assistance to descendants of William and Rose Kavanagh—by blood, marriage, or adoption—to pursue higher education. By providing annual grants—determined through careful trustee review of applications and prudent management of Trust assets and discretionary distribution of income and earnings, the Trustees ensure that deserving family members receive financial support to pursue higher education for generations to come.