VILLANOVA, PA, 15 October 2008—The Villanova School of Business (VSB) congratulates Charles Zech, Professor of Economics and Statistics, for his acceptance of the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s 2008 Christian Stewardship Award. This award is presented annually to an individual who has given outstanding service on behalf of stewardship to the Catholic Church. In recognition of Professor Zech’s academic research, his dedication as founding director of VSB’s Center for the Study of Church Management, and the contributions that both the center and his research afford the Church, Zech has been honored with this prestigious award.

On Monday, October 13, The International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) paid tribute to Professor Zech at its annual awards luncheon in Chicago. ICSC acknowledged Zech not only for his academic contributions to the advancement of the Catholic Church, but for his regular participation in its conferences and at diocesan and parish stewardship days across the country. By accepting the ICSC award, Professor Zech joined the ranks of notable US Catholic bishops—Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan, Diocese of Monterey, California; Archbishop James Patrick Keleher, Archdiocese of Kansas City; and Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy, Archbishop of Seattle—who have received the honor before him.

Said Dean James Danko, Helen and William O’Toole Dean of VSB, "We are pleased to have Professor Charles Zech recognized by the International Catholic Stewardship Council. His scholarly research in Church management is of great value to the school of business and continued evolution of the Catholic Church."

The International Catholic Stewardship Council promotes the concept of holistic Christian stewardship. It serves archdiocese, parishes, professional firms, religious congregations, and Catholic associations through seminars, publications, and annual conferences. ICSC also fosters the development of parish-centered stewardship programs aimed at increasing parishioner involvement and financial resources based on the principle of shared responsibility and accountability.

The Villanova School of Business has been at the forefront of business education since its founding in 1922. Today, VSB is ranked the #13 business school in the nation by BusinessWeek, and serves over 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students in 7 business fields. The school is home to the noted Center for Study of Church Management led by Dr. Charles Zech, thought-leader in Church management and founder of VSB’s Master of Science in Church Management.