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​The Ladies Leaving Legacies Award recognizes extraordinary achievers and is given as a testament to their stellar personal success, and sterling accomplishments related to supporting philanthropic causes and dedication to service. Mrs. Holtz  gives of her time and talent to enrich the lives of others. Her generous outpouring of support to numerous causes is an inspiration that calls others to give, create change and serve in their communities.  Her passion to create a better tomorrow is seen every day in her philanthropy.

 

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Coach Lou and Beth Holtz co-founded the Holtz Charitable Foundation in 1998.  The program is committed to promoting Christianity, education and charity and has awarded grants to many non-profit organizations that support its mission. There are no geographic boundaries for the foundation.   The Holtz Charitable Foundation has provided important funding to several causes including trade school scholarships, Christian ministries, Universities, homeless centers, diabetic pumps & supplies, and “Camp Hot Shots” a camp for type I Juvenile Diabetics.

 

In July 1998, the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame opened in East Liverpool, Ohio, the Holtz’s home town. The Hall was established to recognize accomplishments and contributions of men and women in all fields of endeavor in the Upper Ohio Valley by providing scholarships for trade school throughout the Ohio Valley. This allowed those individuals to be able to provide for their families.  The Hall of Fame recognizes those who strive to make their communities better places to live. More importantly, the Hall of Fame is a source of inspiration for young people who dream of a brighter future, but who may lack the know-how or the funding to pursue it. Lou and Beth want to be able to help the future students in the Upper Ohio Valley to have a chance for continuing their education and should not be denied because he or she lacks the financial resources. They believe that young people are the most valuable resource, as one day the world will be left in their care. The Lou Holtz Foundation and the Hall of Fame encourages these young people in their pursuit of a better future 37 years ago, the Holtz’ son developed insulin dependent diabetes.  Once he started using the Insulin pump, he was able to live a fully functioning life. This lead Lou and Beth’s philanthropic outreach to continue as they began a partnership with Medtronic Diabetes to create Medtronic/Holtz Family Charitable Pump Program in 2011-2016.  This program provided diabetic pumps and supplies to those less fortunate for 5 years running.

 

In 2018, Lou and Beth established a relationship with Med Camps of Louisiana to fully fund the first ever “Camp Hot Shots” a week-long camp for children with Type I Juvenile Diabetes between the ages of 8-16 which is free of charge to all participants.

 

The homeless shelter in Columbia, S.C., was named after Lou and Beth Holtz in December 2003, and both have been instrumental in helping the Center for the Homeless in South Bend.

 

The Holtz Charitable Foundation is also a part of the Notre Dame Coaches for Charity fundraiser, an annual event that also benefits Hannah & Friends and the Ara Parseghian  Medical Research Foundation.  The Foundation’s scholarships for Universities across the country include: University of Notre Dame, University of Arkansas, Kent State University, University of South Carolina, Trine University, Benedictine College, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria Law School, and Marion University.  Lou and Beth’s first and foremost strong faith in God, then being blessed with wonderful family and friends, their compassion to do what is right, to always do their best, and to genuinely care about others is what makes them who they are today. They are the messengers paying It forward.

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