Lutheran school receives $10 million gift

The foundation of John Crean, the Newport Beach philanthropist and businessman who passed away in January, has given $10 million to help open a Lutheran private high school in Irvine.

The $10 million gift to Lutheran South High School, which is set to open this year, is the largest single gift ever given by the Crean Foundation, according to chief financial officer Marc Goldin. The foundation has given the first $2 million to the school and will provide the rest in increments over the coming four years.

Goldin said Crean was considering giving money to the fledgling school last year, but died before he could make a final decision. In the end, his widow, Donna Crean, and children oversaw the donation.

“I know he would be thrilled because he was very much interested in private education,” said Goldin, who noted that Crean had also contributed funds to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks and Aliso Viejo Christian School.

Lutheran South High School, which charges $9,500 in annual tuition and offers financial aid to needy students, is set to open in an interim location in Irvine this August and move to a permanent site across town in 2009. Brian Underwood, the school’s assistant principal, did not return calls Monday, but he put out a press release about the Crean Foundation’s gift.

“John Crean believed fervently in Biblical tithing, Christian education and business practices, and … [in] giving back to the community in charity and service,” William Bartlett, the school’s executive director, said in the release. “The Crean name preaches and teaches well.”

Crean, who founded the motor home business Fleetwood Enterprises in 1950, was a philanthropist for much of his life, giving millions of dollars to charities and helping to launch the Crystal Cathedral and the Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch Library. In the 1950s, when his company was still in its formative years, he donated 10% of his profits to an Anaheim Lutheran church.