Why The Legacy Campaign For JCA?
We believe this project is akin to the transformational campaigns undertaken by both founding orders in 1956 with the construction of St. Francis Academy and the construction of St. Elias Priory and the academic wing addition to Joliet Catholic High School. Those projects set the stage for enrollment increases, peaking for both school communities by 1966 with nearly 2,000 students enrolled between both institutions. This visionary undertaking, along with school choice, will set JCA up for our next 50 years and beyond in a similar manner.
Updating the outdoor athletic complex is a perfect way to celebrate our storied athletic programs. Upgrades to the baseball, football, softball, soccer, tennis, and track and field complexes will finally give all outdoor athletic teams, physical education classes, and the entire JCA student body a place to call home. The legacy and rich traditions of JCA can also be shared with our local Catholic grade schools, area non-profits, and local youth sports organizations.
Now Is The Time
The Plan
Your Support Makes a Difference
Our History
Campaign Progress
Please prayerfully consider making a meaningful gift to The Legacy Capital Campaign and help support our students for generations to come. To learn more about how you or your family can leave a lasting legacy through naming opportunities in The Legacy Campaign for JCA, please contact Ryan Quigley ’03, Director of Institutional Advancement, at rquigley@jca-online.org or 815-741-0563.
Total Campaign Goal
$20,000,000+
Funds Raised
$12,594,725
Phase I - COMPLETED!
> Purchase, asbestos abatement and demolition of the Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home 10-acre property ($2.25m)
> Turf Multi-Purpose Field on OLA site ($900k to $1.2m)
> Purchase of JCA campus from the Joliet Franciscans ($1.5m)
> Establishment of OSF Legacy Faculty/Staff Fund ($1m total funded over five years at $200k per year)
> West Parking Lot
> Tennis Courts
> Significant Stormwater Management/Detention Improvements
Funds Needed for Land Purchase and Construction - All Phases
$17,000,000
Funds Raised
$7,098,252
The JCA Endowment
Adding to the existing $10 million+ JCA Endowment, the transformative Phyllis Olsta gift, along with two anonymous family endowments, will provide $5.5 million in additional scholarships for future Angels and Hilltoppers. This surpasses the initial campaign goal of raising $3,000,000 for tuition assistance.
JCA provided over $2.4 million in tuition assistance during the 2024–2025 school year, with more than 68% of current students receiving scholarship support.
Endowment for Tuition Assistance
$6,000,000
Funds Raised
$5,496,473
Campaign Prayer
Good and gracious God, we recognize all life is a gift and a blessing.
We thank you for your most generous love.
Encourage us to be persons of honesty and integrity, worthy of proclaiming the Gospel, in this sacred ministry of fundraising.
Help us to always reverence the sacred space where our donors and our missions meet.
Give us openness to listen to the needs of our donors.
Give us joyful spirits, and an eagerness to engage others.
Give us hopeful imagination and creative vision, recognizing generosity in even the smallest gift.
Give us strong, steadfast hearts in times of discouragement.
Give us trusting hearts, knowing that the fruits of labors will be realized long after we are gone.
Give us faithful hearts, deeply committed to Your realm.
Let us feel Your Presence so that we know we are never truly alone.
Remind us always that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for you.
We ask this in Jesus’ name, and in unity of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.