The Dr. William P. Sexton Award - 2017:‌ ‌Mitch‌ ‌and‌‌ Marie‌ ‌Budzon‌

2017:‌ ‌Mitch‌ ‌and‌‌ Marie‌ ‌Budzon‌

With this award, Mitch and Marie Budzon are recognized for their spirit and devotion for Notre Dame and for helping to establish and grow the Notre Dame Club of The Villages in Florida.

The Budzons began their involvement with ND by attending athletic events on campus over many years. Their loyalty and love for ND led them to begin making contributions, especially for students with financial need. The Budzons built a close relationship with numerous Notre Dame administrators, the board of trustees members, staff, and alumni.

About a decade ago, the Budzons moved to The Villages, a central Florida retirement community with about 110,000 residents. There, they worked with the Alumni Association to establish the Notre Dame Club of the Villages in 2008. Thanks to their tireless efforts and outstanding leadership, the club has now grown to include some 250 dues-paying members—nearly all of whom, like the Budzons, are friends of the University.

The club’s accomplishments include hosting a Notre Dame Glee Club concert that attracted more than 1,100 people; sending a large contingent to the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game in Jacksonville this past season; building a sizable treasury and scholarship fund, and creating the annual “Taste of The Villages” benefit that raises more than $50,000 each year for a Catholic Charities medical clinic that helps needy families in the area.

Although Mitch has officially served as the club president, he and Marie have worked closely together as a couple. Their passion for the University is second to none, and their dedication to their local Notre Dame club is truly inspiring.

“Marie and I are humbled and blessed to receive this very prestigious Dr. William P. Sexton Award; this is beyond belief,” Mitch Budzon said. “This award is significantly special to us especially for having met and known Dr. William Sexton personally and what he stood for at Notre Dame.”