In 1983 he established the Mater Christi Foundation, today known as the Ave Maria Foundation, to focus on Catholic education, media, community projects and other charities. In 1987 he helped form Legatus, an organization for Catholic CEOs of companies earning more than $4 million per year to promote and support "...moral ethics in business in conformity with the teachings of the Roman Catholic church so that the lives of all can be enhanced". The name was taken from the Latin word for "commander of a legion". Legatus was to serve as a spiritual resource and social community for "top-ranking Catholic business leaders".