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

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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