By Bill Cooney
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Anthony Lehnertz has grown up living and breathing philanthropy work.
Lehnertz is a senior at the University of Iowa and the president of the Student Philanthropy Group on campus.

The fifth-generation Iowa student got involved in the organization during the spring of his freshman year.

“I knew I wanted to go to business school, so Iowa was a natural choice,” he said. “My friends persuaded me to do Dance Marathon my freshman year, and after that, I decided to get involved with the student philanthropy organization.”

Lehnertz, a finance and Spanish major, also works as an intern for the UI Foundation in finance.

Emily O’Brien, the vice president of events and stewardship for the organization, said she got involved at the same time as Lehnertz.

“We joined at the same time, in the spring of our freshman year,” she said. “He does a ton for the organization, from leading weekly meetings to meeting with the Foundation; he’s a natural at it.”

Lehnertz was born and raised in Iowa City and graduated from West High. He also has family ties to the university — his father, Rod Lehnertz, is the interim UI senior vice president for Finance & Operations.

“He’s had a love for the Hawkeyes since the day he could walk and talk,” Rod Lehnertz said. “He really loves Iowa City and the University of Iowa.”

The Student Philanthropy Group’s main goal this semester is to raise awareness about philanthropy on campus.

Lehnertz said there are numerous events planned to spread the message.

As a part of this, John Pappajohn, the eponym of the UI Pappajohn Business Building, will speak in the IMU at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9.

After graduating in the spring, Anthony Lehnertz said he plans on going into philanthropy or development work, possibly for the UI.

“When I was choosing schools, I knew I didn’t want to get too far from Iowa City,” he said. “I would like to continue working for the university after I graduate as well.”

Rod Lehnertz said he is proud of his son for finding his niche at the UI.

“I think it’s neat he has found something that he has a love for,” he said. “He’s truly, fully emerged as a Hawkeye.”

Anthony Lehnertz said one the biggest goals of the organization is to get students involved in philanthropy.

“Our No. 1 goal is to raise awareness about Phil on campus,” Lehnertz said. “We want to let students know everything is affected by philanthropy and how it’s a driving force in helping the university grow and advance.”

Whatever Lehnertz decides to go into after graduation, his time at the university has prepared him well.

“The lessons he’s learned, the opportunities given to him have helped him to open his eyes to what he wants to do,” Rod Lehnertz said. “Whatever he does, I think he’ll be pretty good at it.”