Boca Raton, FL, & Ann Arbor, MI [Feb. 27, 2026]— Mark and Julie Pulte have been
named recipients of the 2025 Bowie Kuhn Award for Evangelization by Legatus, the
international organization of Catholic business leaders committed to studying, living,
and spreading the Catholic faith in their professional and personal lives. The award was
presented at the Legatus National Summit, Jan. 29-31.

The Bowie Kuhn Award for Evangelization recognizes individuals who demonstrate
exceptional commitment to proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in the
marketplace and among their peers. Named in honor of Bowie Kuhn, former
Commissioner of Major League Baseball and a founding member of Legatus, the award
honors leaders who boldly advance evangelization through professional excellence and
faithful service.

Mark Pulte, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Catholic Initiative and Vice
Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, was
selected, alongside his wife Julie, for his innovative efforts to strengthen the Church
through a groundbreaking, Vatican-approved model for financing church and school
restoration and renewal projects. As Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of
Directors of The Catholic Initiative, Mark helped pioneer the development of a first-of-its-
kind structure of investing in and partnering with vibrant but under-resourced Catholic
parishes and schools to ensure these sacred Catholic institutions are restored,
permanently maintained, and sustainably endowed for generations to come.

The Catholic Initiative model shifts ownership of church properties to a nonprofit created
solely for their care, while parishes retain exclusive and permanent rights for Catholic
worship, education, and ministry. By assuming responsibility for restoration, long-term
maintenance, and the creation of dedicated endowments, the model protects parishes
from financial instability and deferred maintenance—freeing clergy and lay leaders to
focus fully on evangelization. By acting as committed, strategic partners to the mission,
The Catholic Initiative also helps amplify the ministries of these parishes and schools.

This same spirit of entrepreneurial innovation defines Mark’s broader professional life. A
graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he is Founder and CEO of Mark Timothy
Incorporated, a Florida-based luxury homebuilding company known for architectural
excellence and craftsmanship. His experience in high-end construction and long-term
asset stewardship directly informed the transformation of the historic seminary at Saint
John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan.

That transformation became the foundation for the Humanitarian Hotels model—an
initiative demonstrating how excellence in hospitality can serve a higher purpose.
Today, the portfolio includes Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, The Inn at Stonecliffe on
Mackinac Island, and (soon) the Graduate Laramie in Laramie, Wyoming. Each property
operates with a mission-driven commitment: donating 100% of profits to charitable
causes that support the Church and those most in need, with the properties themselves
also being used as platforms to directly live out the Corporal Works of Mercy.

“When excellence, faith, and service all come together, we can make a bigger impact
than many think possible,” said Mark Pulte. “Through The Catholic Initiative and the
Humanitarian Hotels model, we are working to show how an entrepreneurial approach
to Catholic philanthropy can directly fuel evangelization and truly make the world a
better place. I am grateful to Legatus for affirming this vision and for encouraging
Catholic leaders to lead boldly with faith.”

Julie Pulte was unable to attend the ceremony; the award was accepted on behalf of the
couple by Mark during the presentation. Together, Mark and Julie share a deep
commitment to Catholic philanthropy and to strengthening the Church for future
generations.

About The Catholic Initiative
The Catholic Initiative is an innovative, Vatican-approved funding model created to
restore and endow vibrant Catholic churches, schools, and parishes for generations to
come. The model is the first of its kind in the world in faith-based fundraising and shifts
ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization
created solely for this purpose, with the Catholic Initiative assuming responsibility for
renovating and maintaining the property going forward, while the parishes or schools
retain exclusive and permanent rights to use the property, without risk of vital funds
being redirected to other purposes. The model also creates a dedicated endowment to
guarantee a reliable, steady income stream to support churches, schools, and parishes
long into the future. Find out more at www.thecatholicinitiative.org.

About Legatus
Founded in 1987 by Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, Legatus brings together
Catholic CEOs and business leaders, along with their spouses, in a unique community
of faith, fellowship, and formation. With more than 5,000 members across over 90
chapters, Legatus equips leaders to become ambassadors for Christ in the
marketplace. Legatus.org