Successful 67th Caritas Event Raises $235,000 for Student Scholarships at USF

2024 Caritas Scholarship Celebration

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 13, 2024, in the Pat Sullivan Center on the university’s main campus in Joliet. This year’s event, themed “Launching Stars,” brought together members of the USF community in a shining display of generosity that resulted in an impressive fundraising total of $235,000 in support of USF students and student scholarships.

“As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, we renew our commitment to being a ‘welcoming community of learners’ for all of our students. Together, we will continue to shine brightly in our classrooms, in the workplace, and in the communities we serve.  The University of St. Francis is deeply appreciative of this support, which will continue to help us launch our students…our stars,” said Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., USF President.

“Once again, the University of St. Francis community came together to support the tradition of the Caritas Scholarship Celebration in its 67th year. One of the most remarkable outcomes was current USF students participating in the paddle raise on the evening of the event. The incredible generosity displayed by everyone involved supports USF students in pursuing their academic goals,” 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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USF’s Caritas Event Raises Over $235,000 for Student Scholarships

2023 Caritas Committee

Joliet, Ill. – After two years of virtual events, the University of St. Francis (USF) hosted its 66th annual Caritas Scholarship Celebration back in the Pat Sullivan Recreation Center on its main campus in Joliet on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The event raised over $235,000 (and close to almost $3 million in the past ten years of the event) through a combination of live and silent auctions, a raffle, and other memorable activities all in support of student scholarships.

“For over 65 years, the annual Caritas Scholarship Celebration has served as the primary fundraiser for University of St. Francis scholarships. Caritas helps to make a college education possible for so many bright students – many who are the first in their family to attend college. Each year, USF provides them with over $23 million in institutional support, which makes a difference for many students who would not be able to obtain a college degree without financial assistance,” said Lisa Sampalis, USF Vice President for Advancement.

Sampalis added, though, that measuring the event’s success extends well beyond its total dollars raised.

“Beyond financial outcomes, success for Caritas includes building USF’s donor base with many first-time attendees that we hope will represent the next generation of donors for USF. Additionally, the Caritas Committee grew by fourteen new members this year, which resulted in seven tables of new attendees at the event. We continue to work as a USF community to build a Franciscan future together in our second century,” Sampalis added.

This year’s event, hosted by Anne and USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., welcomed 280 guests to campus to enjoy an evening themed as a “vintage collegiate affair” planned by a motivated Caritas Committee, which included: Tosh Anderson; Rosie and Cesar Cardenas, Michelle and Terry Cottrell; Jeanette D’Arcy; Nick D’Arcy; Sue and Terry D’Arcy; Iman Ellis-Bowen and Duane Bowen; Patty Gonzalez and Jay Barriga; Shane Green; Jen and Vic Howard; Kevin Howard; Annette Jelinek; Kaity and Jeff Kohl; Suzi and Gordon Marsh;  Frances Naal; Steph and Tyler Qualio; Ann and Steve Randich; Candice Rosen; Ann and Jeffrey Rzasa; Scott Savage; Jodi and Scott Schager; Gina and Brian Sharp; Maggie Sillar; Catherine and Michael Stowe; Wilhelmine and John Vidmar; Tracey and Dan Vogen; and Theresa Dollinger Waldron and Jon Waldron.

USF also credits the evening’s success to the generosity of this year’s sponsors, including:

St. Francis sponsor
D’Arcy Buick GMC

St. Clare sponsor
Wintrust Financial

Brown & Gold sponsors
Gloria and Ed Dollinger and Diane and Bill Habiger

Saint sponsors
Donna and John Przybyla
Sentinus Wealth Management – Stephanie and Tyler Qualio

Bernie sponsors
Barnes & Noble
Lori & Jay Bergman – First Secure Community Bank
Busey Bank
Crowther Roofing
Cheryl and Kevin McCarthy
Quest Food Management
Ann and Steve Randich
Stephanie and Daniel Streitz
Tracey and Dan Vogen
Patricia and Robert Wheeler

Friends sponsors
Marilyn and Tony Arellano
Regina and George Block
Julie and Robert Cannata
Tanisha and David Cannon
Rosie and Cesar Cardenas
Cathedral Area Preservation Association
Timothy Delrose
Cynthia and Robert Erickson
ExxonMobil
Hollywood Casino
IBEW Local 176
Patty Gonzalez and Jay Barriga
Jen and Vic Howard
KGG, LLC
Lindblad Construction
Frances Naal
PepsiCo
Candice Rosen
Tim Wallace Landscape Supply, Inc.
Wilhelmine and Jay Vidmar
Christopher and Mary Kathleen Ward

With the 66th annual event now in the books, USF already has its sights set on laying the foundation for next year’s event.

“We are delighted to announce that Caritas will once again take place on the main campus of USF on Saturday, April 13, 2024. More details will be forthcoming this summer,” Sampalis said.

For more information on Caritas, visit stfrancis.edu/caritas.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 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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