Truth Unity Love
a s e f o r S u p p o r t
Why this is vital for PCHS
Land Locked with Limited Options for Growth
Insufficient Parking Need for a Permanent Transportation Site
Wehaveanexciting to expandourcampus throughtheacquisitionof theadjacentKmartstore andparkinglot. This locatedpropertyoffers significantpotentialto enhanceourcampusand supportthecontinued andsuccessof theCeltic opportunity strategically growth family.
WHY THIS IS VITAL FOR PCHS:
Parking has been a consistent challenge for PCHS for many years. This is increased by the declining number of students riding the bus. We currently rent space from Nicor; there is no room to accommodate parking for special academic, athletic and pastoral events. Our campus is land locked. We need additional property to improve our facilities.
Acquiring property allows us to re-imagine our campus.
One hundred and six years ago, the Providence Catholic High School tradition of excellence began.
The Sisters of Providence assumed leadership of a Catholic high school in downtown Joliet in 1918 for young women to foster academic and spiritual growth. After 40 years of service to the Catholic families of Joliet, the school was closed primarily due to building safety concerns.
In 1962, through a diocesan commitment, the New Providence High School was built on a 30-acre site in New Lenox. This school was staffed by the Sisters of Providence and the Christian Brothers and began functioning as a co-institutional high school with an enrollment of 350. Although enrollment increased to 552 students by 1969, financial troubles threatened the immediate future of Providence. The students, families, and staff of Providence convinced Bishop Blanchette to save the school, and together they conducted fundraising events to offset the budget deficit.
Fr. Roger Kaffer was named principal of Providence in 1970. During his 15 years of committed and enthusiastic leadership, enrollment increased, academic standards were raised and several building additions, including six new theology classrooms, the Sacred Heart gymnasium, and the Bishop Blanchette Library were added to the campus. When Fr. Kaffer was named Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in 1985, the Order of St. Augustine was chosen to assume the administration of the school.
The Augustinians took over the administration of the school in 1985 and immediately set out to solidify the Catholic identity of the school, increase graduation requirements to a college preparatory level, and make improvements to the physical plant. In 1994, the school adopted the President/Principal administrative model. Under this model, Providence increased enrollment to capacity and was considered one of the top Catholic college preparatory high schools in the area.
The school has enjoyed unparalleled athletic success as well, winning a total of 32 state championships in seven different sports and activities. In recent years, over 99% of Providence graduates have entered universities and colleges throughout the country and have earned millions of dollars in academic and athletic scholarships.
At the base of the school’s success is a dedicated and caring staff that understands the importance of their role in students’ lives and treats this privilege with due respect. Ultimately, Providence students are successful because they receive a balance in education through academic instruction, religious formation, community service, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
THESCHOOL COMPLETEDTHE FOLLOWING MAJORCHANGES TOTHECAMPUS INRECENTYEARS:
A $2 9millioncapital campaignwasconductedtobuilda new35,000-square-footscienceandfineartswing
Theschool purchased14 acresin2000andcreatedtheWest CampusatGougarRoadandLincolnHighway featuringsoccer andbaseball facilitiesandsandvolleyball courts
Morethan$500,000wasraisedfortherenovationand constructionofnewhomebleachersforBishopKaffer Stadium andotherathleticfacility improvements
Anarchitectcreateda20-yearmasterplanthatservesasa comprehensivedocumenttohelpguidetheschool intothefuture
Theschool purchased25acresoflandsouthwestofthecampus, thusestablishingtheSouthCampuswhichincludesacrosscountry courseandlacrossefields
Theschool’s“Turfin‘12” campaigntoinstall syntheticturfand refinishthetrack wassuccessful inraising$850,000fortheproject
Thegirl’slockerroom facilitiesweretotally reconstructedatacost of$700,000,mostofwhichwasraisedthroughacampaignto femalealumnaeathletesandtheirfamiliesofpastandpresent
A feasibility determinedtheschool couldraise$6M fora StudentCommonsaddition
Afterasuccessful $6millioncapital campaigncombiningraised fundsandschool reserves,theschool openedthe21,000square-footBrownStudentCommonsandCafeteria
Theschool embarkedontheCelticCampaignofChampions–a $1,300,000capital campaigntoupdateoutdoorathletic/school facilities
How many times have you thought, “That Kmart property would be ideal to expand the footprint of our campus for the students.” That time has come, and now dreams can become a reality. It is available.
Providence Catholic High School is a century-old institution dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and character development. As we continue to grow and evolve, we face a critical space shortage (including parking) that limits our ability to provide the best possible educational experience for our students and families.
With the addition of the Kmart property connected to the east side of campus, it triggers the process to create a strategic plan, with a master facility reimagination, feasibility study and finally a capital campaign. Understanding that there are updates that are overdue to the campus building as well as additional space needed to benefit students and alumni, these important plans can only realistically occur after obtaining the Kmart property.
After an intense schedule of meetings with qualified and trusted supporters, it was determined that the optimal action to take was to obtain to provide maximum flexibility to launch into a strategic planning process, setting the stage for a capital campaign.
However, there are two possible scenarios:
$500K
The parcel of land connected to the east side of our campus, OR
$4.1M
The entire parcel for $3M, demolition and remediation of the building for $600K and development of the parking lot connected to the east side of campus for $500K
This is our momentwe have the power to defin
Father John Merkelis, OSA, President
h we can do become better people, d tizens,
This property is essential for the future of PCHS. Donors will be honored with naming rights available.
Outright Gift: A one-time donation to fund the land purchase. Pledged Gift: A commitment to make payments over time.
Our committee summed up this opportunity with a short phrase, “God does not create more land.” This moment is critical, and your support will write the story of our time.
its our obligt e action.
Paul Houston, Prinicipal
