Tag: Caritas

USF News

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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USF News

USF Pivots Annual Caritas Scholarship Ball to Virtual Format

Joliet, Ill. – For over 60 years, the annual Caritas Scholarship Ball has served as the University of St. Francis’ primary fundraiser for student scholarships. This year’s 65th annual event, originally planned as an in-person event on Saturday, January 29 at USF’s Sullivan Recreation Center, is pivoting to a virtual format out of an abundance of caution in response to a large and still-growing number of COVID-19 cases in the Will County area.

“Our Caritas Planning Committee, along with our Board of Trustees, unanimously felt that pivoting to a virtual format for this year’s event was necessary. Last year’s Caritas was our first-ever virtual event of its kind, and it was largely successful because of the generosity and support that is consistently demonstrated by USF alumni, friends and employees, especially when it comes to supporting our students. We are confident that this year’s event will see that level of support for our students, as well,” said USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D.

This year’s event, hosted by Arvid & Anne Johnson, will honor the University of St. Francis Board of Trustees and will feature many of the characteristics of annual Caritas events, including a special message from the University President, a student scholarship testimonial, silent and live auctions featuring wine baskets, travel experiences, golf packages and much more.

Virtual access to the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. (with the live program beginning at 6:30 p.m.), costs $100 per device/household and can be registered for now at stfrancis.edu/caritas. If you are looking for a way to create a group experience, consider a Friends Sponsorships for $1,000, which allows you the opportunity to participate in a watch party either in your home or via Zoom. All participants who have already registered will be contacted by a USF staff member who will provide details regarding virtual access.

Sponsorship packages, which also play an extremely important role in the success of the annual event, are still available for purchase and range from $1,000 to $10,000. Sponsorship packages include a variety of unique recognition opportunities.

“One of the wonderful aspects of last year’s virtual event was the participation of USF alumni from across the country. This support help USF to provide over $23 million in institutional support to USF students, many of whom are first-generation college students. These scholarships make a difference for many students who may not be able to attend and obtain a college degree. We are confident that this pivot to a virtual event will again draw the participation of USF alumni near and far, as well as friends and other supporters of the University, in a collective effort to support USF students,” said Lisa Sampalis, USF Director of Advancement.

The University of St. Francis would like to thank this year’s Caritas sponsors to date for their difference-making generosity: St. Francis Sponsors: Wintrust Commercial Banking; Old Plank Trail Community Bank; St. Clare Sponsors: Diane & Bill Habiger and Gloria & Edward Dollinger; Brown and Gold Sponsors: Barnes & Noble Booksellers; Anne & Arvid Johnson and Dede & Joe Mallof; Saint Sponsors: Sentinus Wealth Management; Bernie Sponsors: First Secure Bank; Northern Trust; Pepsi-Cola; Quest Food Management Services; Patricia & Robert Wheeler; Busey Bank; Cheryl & Kevin McCarthy; Jose Paramo; Mr. & Mrs. Victor Patterson; Ann & Steve Randich and Daniel Streitz; Friends Sponsors: Piazza & Mannerino Masonry; Silver Cross Hospital; Corey & Steve Carbery; KGG, LLC; Timothy Delrose; Dr. Iman Ellis Bowen; Francis Naal; Wilhelmine & John Vidmar; Regina & George Block; Wallace Landscape; Loretta Spesia; Candice Rosen and Timothy Delrose.

For sponsorship opportunities, auction ideas, or questions, please contact Penny Basso, USF Assistant Director of the Annual Fund-Caritas, by phone at 815-740-3748 or by email at pbasso@stfrancis.edu.

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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 52,000 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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Virtual Caritas Event Raises Over $280,000 for Students

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis spent all of 2020 celebrating its centennial. Even amidst the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the university found creative ways to carry on the celebration, serving as yet another example of the perseverance displayed by Joliet’s university for the past 100 years. So when it came time to host the 64th Annual Caritas Scholarship Ball, the university’s largest annual fundraiser in support of student scholarships, USF once again creatively pivoted as necessitated by the ongoing pandemic to present the first-ever “From Our Home to Yours” Virtual Caritas Scholarship Ball, on January 30, 2021, and raised over $280,000 in the process.

“We are extremely thankful for the support so many individuals and organizations showed through this year’s virtual event. From the attendees and sponsors to our Caritas Committee chairs, Ann and Steve Randich, and Corey and Steve Carbery, and the entire Caritas Committee, so many people contributed in their own way to create an experience that was both unique and largely successful,” said USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D.

Although this year’s event required virtual participation by attendees, the event’s organizers ensured that Caritas included aspects of the traditions established through past events. Some of these traditions included a welcome from hosts Anne and Arvid Johnson; toasts made by USF trustees, Caritas Committee members, and alumni; warm wishes of welcome from the Caritas Committee chairs; the musical offerings of the USF Jazz Ensemble; and the stories of students – told by the students, themselves – and their unique educational journeys throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Those traditions, coupled with other event staples such as the silent and live auctions, paddle raise and raffle, combined for an impressive experience that yielded successful results just as past in-person events had accomplished.

“It the midst of the great uncertainty of the past year, one thing remained certain: our donors’ support of USF students. Since 2014, Caritas events have raised over $2.5 million in USF student scholarship support. In its 64-year history, Caritas events have raised over $6 million in USF student scholarship support. These examples not only demonstrate the importance of this annual event, but also the impact it has in helping to make a USF education possible for so many students,” Johnson added.

With the 64th annual event now in the books, USF’s sights have already been set on laying the foundation for next year’s event.

“We are delighted to announce the 65th Annual Caritas Scholarship Ball will return to campus on Saturday, January 29, 2022, in the Pat Sullivan Center on our main campus in Joliet. More details will be forthcoming this summer, but we are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back to campus in 2022,” Johnson 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 51,000 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 News

Caritas Auction Offers Clinic with WNBA’s Quigley and Vandersloot

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is celebrating its 64th Caritas Scholarship Ball virtually on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Each year, the Caritas Committee solicits unique, outstanding live and silent auction items from community members. This year is no different with many opportunities to support student scholarships!

One auction item for the event is extremely unique and has strong ties to the Joliet area and to USF. What is the item? More importantly, how much is “bigger thinking” and a “brighter purpose” worth to you?

WNBA Chicago Sky stars Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, along with members of the University of St. Francis women’s basketball team, will host a clinic at USF’s Pat Sullivan Center in the summer of 2021. The clinic will be designed to meet the needs of the attendees. Because the number of participants for the clinic can be as many as 30, you are invited and encouraged to go in with a group of friends on any bid.

What if you love this auction item, but don’t have anyone that can use it?  Consider donating it to your favorite Joliet-area non-profit agency!

So how can you bid on this unique experience? Bidding, which is open to the public, will open Monday, January 25 and close on Saturday, January 30 at 3 p.m. Because this item is being auctioned through a closed bidding process, please email your bid to Regina Block at rblock@stfrancis.edu. She will confirm receipt of your bid. The winner will be announced during the Caritas program on the evening of January 30. All proceeds will directly support USF scholarships. With all the uncertainty that this year has brought, there is one thing that USF students know they can count on, and that is your support.

For more information on this program, email rblock@stfrancis.edu.

About Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot

USF holds a special meaning for Allie and the Quigley family. Allie’s father, Pat, and her mother, Chris, are both inductees of the athletic department’s Hall of Fame.  The basketball floor at USF is also named Pat Quigley Court in memory of her father.  Allie’s stepfather, Don Strle, also played basketball for the Fighting Saints and was a teammate of Pat, while Allie’s sister, Sam, coached the USF women’s basketball team for five years.

Allie is a three-time WNBA All-Star, and both a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year and All-Star 3-Point Contest champion. Courtney, meanwhile, holds many WNBA assist records and has been named an All-WNBA selection three times and an All-Star twice in her career. Both women have had great basketball careers both in the United States and internationally.

Even more than their professional talents, both Allie and Courtney demonstrate the University of St. Francis’ core values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion and Service through their gift of this clinic.

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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 51,000 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 News

Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala Set for Saturday, Jan. 25

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is bringing one of Joliet’s longest-running black tie events back to campus as part of its yearlong Centennial Celebration in 2020. The Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala, co-chaired by Gloria and Edward Dollinger, and Diane ‘77 and Bill Habiger, and hosted by USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., and his wife, Anne, will take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, starting at 6 p.m. in the Pat Sullivan Center on the main USF campus located at 500 Wilcox Street in Joliet.

“This Caritas is really special,” Diane Habiger said. “Bill and I chaired Caritas the first year it was moved off-campus after several years of being held at the Rec Center. We, along with the Dollingers, are delighted to bring Caritas back to campus for one year and are planning for a very special and nostalgic event.”

A lot has changed at USF over the years. In the past two years alone, the campus has undergone some very noticeable changes with the construction and opening of the LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Science Hall in 2018 and the razing of St. Albert Hall this past summer. In August 2020, USF will also unveil a new Centennial Quad and Centennial Gateway, which will further transform the university’s main campus. USF anticipates that its Centennial Celebration plans and special events, including the Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala, will attract alumni, friends and the community back to campus.

“Because this year’s event is part of USF’s Centennial Celebration, it is an opportunity to bring back to campus our donors and people who may have been unable to attend in recent years. They will be able to see first-hand the growth that has happened within the University.  We have several new facilities, and the campus has a completely different visual look and feel. This year’s Caritas is an opportunity to showcase that,” Gloria Dollinger said.

Each year, the University of St. Francis provides over $20 million in institutional financial aid for students. More than 1,200 students at USF receive scholarships and 100% of the incoming freshman class receives some form of financial assistance. In addition, USF has also been a home to many first-generation college students – students who are the first in their family to attend college – for several years. Over the course of the past nine years alone, an average of 58% of each of USF’s incoming freshman classes has been comprised of first-generation college students. The financial assistance generated through Caritas and the university’s other annual fundraising efforts goes on to help make a USF education attainable for so many students.

USF’s Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala will feature a silent and live auction, gourmet cuisine by Jewell Events Catering, a premium bar and music by Gentlemen of Leisure. Ultimately, the evening will be an opportunity for attendees to celebrate the Franciscan spirit of the university while making an important difference for students.

“We continue to be grateful for the incredible, ongoing generosity of the USF, Joliet and Will County communities. This support inspires and affirms the important work that is being done by the University, while demonstrating an investment in our students, who are our future leaders,” said President Johnson.

The University of St. Francis would also like to thank this year’s Caritas sponsors for their difference-making generosity: Gold Sponsors – Sodexo and Wintrust Commercial Banking; Silver Sponsors – Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Gloria & Edward Dollinger and Diane & Bill Habiger; and Bronze Sponsors -Crowther Roofing & Sheet Metal, First Secure Bank, Hollywood Casino, Northern Trust, Packey Webb Ford, Pepsi-Cola, Piazza & Mannerino Masonry, Sentinus, LLC, Patricia & Robert Wheeler, and Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow.

Advance reservations for the event are required. Event tickets are $350 per person and seating is limited. To purchase tickets, please visit stfrancis.edu/caritas.

The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide, offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 50,000 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 News

Dollingers, Habigers to Co-Chair USF’s Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is planning to bring one of Joliet’s longest-running black-tie events back to campus as part of its year-long Centennial Celebration in 2020, and they are pleased to announce that Gloria and Edward Dollinger, and Diane ‘77 and Bill Habiger and will serve as co-chairs for what has been officially billed as the Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala. The event, hosted by USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., and his wife, Anne, will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2020, in the Pat Sullivan Center.

The Dollingers and Habigers are no strangers to Caritas, which generates financial support to help fund USF student scholarships. Both couples have attended the event for several years. The Habigers also served as chairs for the 2013 Caritas event.

“This Caritas is really special,” said Diane, a USF trustee, who along with her husband, Bill, owns Lincolnshire Properties, Inc., which is a property management company that offers professional offices and centralized services. “Bill and I chaired Caritas the first year it was taken off-campus after several years of being held at the Rec Center. We, along with the Dollingers, are delighted to bring Caritas back to campus for one year and are planning for a very special and nostalgic event.”

Gloria, who is the nutrition supervisor for the Joliet Park District’s Inwood Athletic Club and a Will County Board member for District 10, and her husband Edward, a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments and USF trustee, are also looking forward to bringing the event back to campus for one year.  They feel it will serve as a way for alumni and friends of the University to see first-hand how USF has changed over the years.

“Because this year’s event is part of USF’s Centennial Celebration, it is an opportunity to bring back to campus our donors and people who may have been unable to attend in recent years. They will be able to see first-hand the growth that has happened within the University.  We have several new facilities, and the campus has a completely different visual look and feel. This year’s Caritas is an opportunity to showcase that,” Gloria said.

“We also want to stress that this is a community event,” she added. “Everyone is welcome – it’s not just for alumni or a select group. It is for the entire community, and the entire community is invited to help make it a success.”

For over sixty years, the annual Caritas Ball has served as the University of St. Francis’ primary fundraiser for student scholarships.  Both Diane and Gloria know how important of a role this financial support is when it comes to making a college education possible for students.

“As an alumna, I want to help others realize the dream of earning a college degree from the University of St. Francis.  I so appreciate what I have gained from USF, and I want to pass it along to all students, including first-generation students who are the first in their family to attend college,” Diane said.

USF has been a home to many first-generation college students for several years. Over the course of the past nine years alone, an average of 58% of each of USF’s incoming freshman classes has been comprised of first-generation college students.

Gloria added, “Events like Caritas are important because they help make the investment of a college education more affordable. The more funds we raise, the more scholarship support we can offer.”

Scholarships made possible through Caritas and the many supporters of USF create life-changing opportunities that affect virtually all undergraduate students. In 2017-2018, approximately 96% of full-time, undergraduate students enrolled at USF received financial assistance, which illustrates the importance of scholarship availability.

Gloria recently learned first-hand of the impact of a USF scholarship while speaking with a parent whose daughter benefited from receiving one. The impact of the scholarship was so great that the parent plans to attend this year’s Caritas as a way to help pay that generosity forward.

“The topic of Caritas came up when we were speaking, and when she heard that Edward and I were co-chairing the event, she told me that she plans to get a table at it because this is her chance to give back. She said her daughter was given a wonderful opportunity and this was a great way to pay it forward,” Gloria said.

It will be a busy year for the Dollingers and Habigers. In addition to chairing Caritas, the two couples are also co-chairing USF’s Centennial Campaign, which has a $2 million goal that includes raising funds for student scholarships and two campus enhancement projects: creating a Centennial Quad and a Centennial Gateway.

“Our goal is to raise $2 million to continue to support students and to enhance the campus. The campus has become more and more beautiful as each year passes. The Motherhouse is just gorgeous. Tower Hall has always been a landmark, and the new Brown Science Hall just continues to add grandeur to the campus,” Diane said.

While USF’s campus is recognizable for its architectural characteristics, both Diane and Gloria stress that maintaining and even building upon the University’s Franciscan heritage is key to its next 100 years.

“USF has 100 years of Franciscan teaching behind it.  We are looking forward to continuing this Franciscan tradition into its second century.  I am happy and proud to be part of this effort with Bill, Edward, and Gloria,” Diane said.

“My hope is that the University continues to live its Franciscan mission, heritage and its four Franciscan values  –  service, compassion, respect and integrity – and that we continue to impress those values upon our students and our faculty. Everyone has really done a great job bringing the University to a new level, and I hope we work to build upon that while also continuing to offer a quality, faith-based education,” Gloria added.

In addition to returning to campus for this year, the Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala will feature the live music of Gentlemen of Leisure and catering by Jewell Events Catering.  For more information about Caritas, to purchase ticket or to become a sponsor, visit stfrancis.edu/caritas.

The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves over 4,000 students nationwide, offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 50,000 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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