, a German-born Indianapolis philanthropist who cofounded , created Christel House International in 1998 from the proceeds of the 1996 sale of the highly successful leisure services company. The organization represents the fulfillment of DeHaan’s vision to transform the lives of impoverished children through education, character development, career preparation, and job placement assistance.
The first school opened in Mexico City in 1998 using a concept DeHaan called a “poverty alleviation model.” Using a holistic approach to education, Christel House starts with a strong K-12 academic curriculum and adds character development programming designed to instill independence, integrity, social responsibility, and leadership. Each school provides a daily breakfast and lunch, preventative and acute health care, social services, and enrichment activities. But the Christel House holistic model of support does not end with high school graduation.
For five years post-graduation, the Christel House College & Careers program provides financial, academic, and career-oriented assistance as students transition to college, apprenticeship, and work. This model has proven to be successful: 88 percent of Christel House graduates in the workforce have formal employment (stable positions with benefits) compared with 38 percent of their in-country peers.
Christel House schools in Indianapolis include Christel House Academy South (K-8), Christel House Watanabe High School (9-12), and Christel House DORS (a tuition-free high school for adults). Early in 2020, Indianapolis Public Schools announced plans to partner with Christel House Indianapolis, allowing it to relocate to Manual High School while also running Manual’s winddown process.
Not all of the press about DeHaan and her schools, however, has been positive. In 2013, an Associated Press report found that the school’s grade improved from a C to an A as the Indiana state superintendent of public instruction’s office developed the methodology for its new grading formula to yield more accurate results for all schools. Speculation around DeHaan’s political contributions followed.
Then in 2012, this grade dropped from A to F when ISTEP tests for many Christel House students could not be completed due to test software malfunctions. Although the school appealed, its grade was left unchanged. However, in 2014 the school’s grade improved to a B. This followed a challenge to the original grade (D), which successfully argued that high school results were overweighted when the school served only grades 9 and 10. DeHaan did not take these challenges lightly. She dedicated significant time, energy, and resources to identifying and implementing changes necessary to achieve academic excellence.
A proponent of social responsibility, DeHaan founded Christel House International to deploy her resources and business skills to cause transformation and intergenerational change. By covering all the organization’s administrative and fundraising expenses, she assured donors that 100 percent of their donations would go to programs benefiting students. Christel House is widely recognized as a charity operating with the highest degree of accountability and effectiveness.
In 2022, the organization served nearly 6,700 students and graduates worldwide through schools in India, Jamaica, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States. DeHaan’s careful planning has ensured the continuance of the work of Christel House through an endowment created by her estate following her death in June 2020. The organization represents one facet of DeHaan’s philanthropic initiatives, which includes the . The at the University of Indianapolis also continues her legacy.
In 2022, the organization served nearly 6,700 students and graduates worldwide through schools in India, Jamaica, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States. DeHaan’s careful planning has ensured the continuance of the work of Christel House through an endowment created by her estate following her death in June 2020. The organization represents one facet of DeHaan’s philanthropic initiatives, which includes the . The at the University of Indianapolis also continues her legacy.
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