Frederick Enman, SJ: The Mission, Formation, and Leadership of Matthew 25, Inc.

In his early Jesuit years, Frederick Enman, SJ, also known as “Father Fred”, felt a call to live the message of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Verse 25, about caring for others. He organized Matthew 25 as a mission to provide housing for the poor, especially for at-risk families. As its leader, Father Fred cultivated networks of donors, volunteers, organizations, foundations, schools, financial institutions, and small and large companies. This case documents the evolution of Matthew 25, Inc., a mission-based non-profit founded by Father Fred. The narrative provides a chronological account of the organization’s origins and growth. To date, Matthew 25 has built 12 homes that house 22 families. The case highlights specific moments in time of Father Fred's decision-making to prompt students to compare his choices with their own leadership styles. This is a discussion case.