Making a Lasting Impression

"We focus on Louisville because that’s who we are. It’s in our name."

John A. “Jack” Hillerich III
Chairman, Hillerich & Bradsby, maker of the Louisville Slugger bat.

He created the Hillerich Family Charitable Foundation, a donor-advised fund, in honor of his sister Joan.

John A. “Jack” Hillerich III

If you want to see joy, spend some time with Jack Hillerich on the factory floor at Hillerich & Bradsby. He glides from machine to machine, happily turning wood or burning the famous Louisville Slugger logo onto a new bat. Pride shines in his eyes when he talks about his company’s hometown. “I was in New Zealand at a gas station, and a guy asked, ‘Yank, where are you from?’ I told him I’m from Kentucky. He asked whereabouts in Kentucky and I responded Louisville. He immediately followed with ‘Slugger.’ In New Zealand! We owe it to Louisville. It’s part of who we are.”

Jack’s older sister, Joan, shared his passion for Louisville. When she passed away in 2007, she entrusted Jack to use part of her estate to give back to the community they love. He considered a private foundation, but was overwhelmed by the legal and accounting responsibilities. So Jack contacted the Community Foundation and created the Hillerich Family Charitable Foundation.

He says that working with the Community Foundation is the best thing he could have done for his philanthropy. We think the Hillerich family is one of the best things that has happened to Louisville.