Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is proud to announce the outstanding success of its recent Caritas Scholarship Celebration held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in the Pat Sullivan Center on the university’s main campus in Joliet. This year’s event, themed “Pearls of Wisdom,” brought together members of the USF community in a shining display of generosity that resulted in an impressive fundraising total of $317,000 in support of USF students and student scholarships.

“It is because of the generosity you show at Caritas each year that our students are able to become the servant leaders of tomorrow. This evening is not only about the power of scholarship support, but also about student success and the talented, hard-working students who are a testament to the value of a USF education,” said Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., USF President.

“Your generosity through Caritas directly impacts our students by providing scholarships that make a Franciscan education accessible and guarantees opportunities for all students,” said Lisa Sampalis, USF Vice President for Advancement.

The event, organized by USF and the Caritas Committee made up of alumni, staff, faculty, and university friends, has been a long-standing tradition at USF and in the Joliet community. Through a combination of games, auctions, and gifts from the heart, attendees demonstrated their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of students.

D’Arcy Buick GMC was the presenting sponsor of this year’s event, including Terry, Sue and Nick D’Arcy, all of whom are Caritas Committee members. Many USF alumni, local businesses and families also sponsored the event. USF is incredibly grateful to D’Arcy Buick GMC, Wintrust, and all of this year’s sponsors for their unwavering commitment to the tradition of the University of St. Francis in our second century. Visit stfrancis.edu/caritas for a complete list of this year’s sponsors and other event details.

For more information about the University of St. Francis and upcoming initiatives at the university, visit stfrancis.edu.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 3,300 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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