GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

Anne and I welcome you to tonight’s 2022 Caritas Scholarship Ball—albeit, once again, in a virtual format. It remains a privilege to serve as the president of the University of St. Francis, even during these challenging times, thanks to the strong foundation in mission provided by our Sister-sponsors, our wonderful employees and Board of Trustees who carry on our Sisters’ legacy, the inspiring students we serve, and, of course, all of you… our loyal donors/supporters.

Fifty-plus percent of each year’s incoming freshman class remain the first in their family to attend college. That means that while more than half of the current freshman class had little previous exposure to higher education, they saw value in it and chose to pursue their degree at the University of St. Francis. Of that incoming class, one hundred percent receive financial assistance of some kind from the university. Bridging the gap between students’ financial resources and what they pay is a big part of why we’re joining together virtually this evening—i.e., raising funds to support 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 fine USF education. This is the ninth Caritas Scholarship Ball for Anne and I, and in the last eight years, we have raised nearly $2.5 million for student scholarships. We hope to continue this incredible progress tonight!

We are grateful to our Caritas Committee for their outstanding leadership on this year’s event, which marks 65 years of scholarship support for St. Francis students and recognizes and celebrates our past and present Board of Trustees members. Together, the Caritas Committee worked tirelessly with our advancement team to provide what we hope will be another unforgettable night of charity and fun for you.

Once this evening ends and you are home recalling the impact of your support, if you think of another way that you could contribute to the success of the students at the University of St. Francis, please know that it is never too late to make another gift. Just contact Lisa Sampalis at 815-740-5065 or lsampalis@stfrancis.edu to ensure that your additional support is counted toward Caritas 2022. Please also save the date for next year’s Caritas, to be held on January 28, 2023—hopefully, back on our Joliet campus! Enjoy the evening… even more so because you know that our event has a higher purpose.

Pace e Bene,

ARVID C. JOHNSON, Ph.D. President University of St. Francis