Estate of T.J. Moran Announces $1 Million Investment in 海角社区
10/16/2015
BATON ROUGE 鈥� Family members of the late Thomas J. 鈥淭.J.鈥� Moran visited campus on Oct. 15 to present a $1 million estate gift to 海角社区.
The gift, contributed by the T.J. Moran Family Foundation, will be evenly split among four campus programs, with $250,000 supporting each of the following: the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Manship School of Mass Communication, E. J. Ourso College of Business and College of Human Sciences & Education.
Moran passed away May 18 at the age of 84. A lifelong entrepreneur with many business ventures, he was the first college graduate in his family. Though he grew up in Chicago and earned his degree from the University of Wisconsin, Moran spent much of his life in Baton Rouge. He opened the first franchise of Ruth鈥檚 Chris Steak House in 1975 and held franchises in 11 other cities. He also successfully founded TJ Ribs, Ninfa鈥檚 Mexican Restaurant and Ruffino鈥檚 Italian Restaurant, all in Baton Rouge. Moran鈥檚 immediate family holds eight degrees from 海角社区, and his legacy gift honors a strong family commitment to the university in the areas most meaningful to them.
Presenting the gift today were Moran鈥檚 son, Burke, along with Burke鈥檚 wife, Melissa, and their two sons, Thomas and Michael. Continuing his father鈥檚 tradition of successful restaurant endeavors, Burke owns Baton Rouge-based TJ Ribs and T铆o Javi鈥檚 Fresh-Mex Bar & Grill.
The family shared, 鈥淔or more than 40 years, 海角社区 has been an instrumental part of our lives. Dad proudly watched all five of his children and one granddaughter become Tigers, with a total of eight 海角社区 degrees earned by them. Through his connection with this wonderful institution, not only did Dad make lifelong friends, including Dale Brown, Bo Bahnsen, Robert Justis, Scott Berg and many others, but he also helped countless kids pursue their dreams by providing educational support along the way. He realized early in life that pursuing a college degree was not only key to his future success, but to others, as well. Encouraging students to obtain a college education was another way for him to stay true to his life and business philosophy to 鈥榤ake it better every day.鈥� We are honored that his legacy will live on through the students and programs that will benefit from this gift.鈥�
Moran was an active community volunteer and philanthropist, with a humanitarian impact that was often behind the scenes and away from public view. His generosity extended to direct support of young people, the disadvantaged and the ill; lending his business expertise through service on various nonprofit boards and at 海角社区; and using his popular culinary ventures to support hundreds of fundraisers benefiting many charitable organizations. His legacy investment in 海角社区 continues that long history of community support by celebrating his loved ones鈥� deep connections to campus.
鈥淭.J. Moran was an esteemed member of our community who contributed in countless ways to the local business and nonprofit sectors,鈥� said 海角社区 President F. King Alexander. 鈥淧art of his business philosophy was a commitment to serving the communities where his restaurants were located. 海角社区 is humbled by his generous decision to extend this commitment to 海角社区. T.J. Moran鈥檚 legacy lives on in the meaningful difference that this selfless gift will make in each area it supports.鈥�
Philanthropic support of 海角社区 fuels our success in and out of the classroom 鈥� success that continues because of donors鈥� generosity. Gifts fund excellence in the areas most important to donors through scholarships, facility upgrades, internships, faculty research and so much more. Visit www.lsu.edu/giving for more information or to give to 海角社区.