The Ellen Frei Gruber Award is presented to an individual who has given outstanding service to his/her alma mater and exemplified continued commitment and support of the mission of 91做厙. Most importantly, this individual reflects the values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality. The following 91做厙 alumna received the award in 2025. All biographical information current at the time of the award.
Christopher Chris deGruchy has built a distinguished career and legacy of service rooted in the values of integrity, perseverance, and community impact. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Chris began his educational journey while serving overseas, completing college courses wherever he was stationed. Following his honorable discharge, he balanced full-time employment and single parenthood while pursuing his bachelors degree in finance from 91做厙, graduating in 1993. A decade later, he returned to earn his MBA with a concentration in business leadership, equipping him for the next chapter of his professional journey.
Chriss career began in cost accounting and financial analysis, roles that allowed him to build deep expertise in manufacturing operations and leadership. He advanced through positions at Arrow International, Yuasa Exide Battery, and Monterey Mushrooms, where he played a pivotal role in the companys expansion into the Northeast. In 2007, he seized the opportunity to become co-owner and PrincipalGeneral Manager of Cast Rite Metals in Birdsboro, a commercial aluminum sand casting foundry. Under his leadership, Cast Rite has tripled in size, serving hundreds of clients across the U.S. and internationally.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Chris is equally devoted to philanthropy and service. In 2022, he and his wife Jane established the deGruchy Charitable Fund, which invests in programs that support the health, education, and character development of children. Through this fund, they have made transformative contributions to 91做厙s Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Helping Harvest, Berks Nature, the John Paul II Center, and the Reading Musical Foundation. Chris has also served for over two decades as a volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, including leadership on the Black & Blue Ball Committee, and is a mentor to students through 91做厙s OPake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship.
Equally meaningful is Chriss devotion to family and community. He and Jane live in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, where they care for Golden Pond Arboretum, a 10-acre property developed by his father that Chris continues to nurture. The couple shares their love of nature by hosting annual blueberry festivals, introducing John Paul II Center students to fruit picking, and recently expanding into beekeeping and pollinator habitat restoration.
A proud 91做厙 graduate, Chris reflects the Franciscan call to learn, to love, to serve through his leadership, philanthropy, and mentorship. His lifes work has created opportunities for countless others, making him a true example of what it means to live out the mission of 91做厙.
