Joliet Catholic Academy Announces Historic $6.08 Million Estate Gift to the Legacy Capital Campaign

Joliet Catholic Academy’s Board of Members, Board of Directors, and President/Principal Dr. Jeffrey Budz proudly announce a transformational estate gift in support of the school’s Legacy Capital Campaign. St. Francis Academy alumna Phyllis A. Olsta ’51 has contributed $6.08 million from her estate, the largest single gift ever received in the history of Joliet Catholic Academy.

Olsta, a devoted supporter of St. Francis Academy, Joliet Catholic Academy, and the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, passed away on October 6, 2025, at the age of 92. Born July 31, 1933, in Joliet, she graduated from St. Francis Academy (now JCA) in 1951. Her professional life included serving as a cruise directress for Matson Lines’ Monterey and Mariposa South Pacific ships. She later worked for the Catholic Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she helped establish the Monroe Foundation to support the first Catholic schools in the state.

Inspired by her experiences in Alaska and her deep commitment to Catholic education, Olsta established the Phyllis A. Olsta Scholarship at Joliet Catholic Academy in 2012. Her generosity has since enabled hundreds of students to benefit from a Carmelite and Franciscan education.

During visits home, Phyllis often attended Mass at St. Paul the Apostle in Joliet and gathered with friends from her SFA days. She spoke fondly of the Franciscan sisters whose formation instilled in her the discipline and work ethic that guided her throughout life. At her 2023 induction into JCA’s Hall of Champions for Business & Industry, Olsta shared, “My contributions to JCA are like a gift that keeps giving back. It’s a wonderful present to give to Joliet Catholic Academy, a school that has done so much for all of us.”

A significant portion of this historic gift will support land acquisitions critical to JCA’s Legacy Capital Campaign, including the 38+ acre purchase of the school’s current academic campus and the 8+ acre acquisition of the former Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home property. Additional funds will strengthen the existing Phyllis A. Olsta Scholarship Endowment.

The $20 million Legacy Campaign will expand access to scholarships for current and future JCA students, establish the OSF Legacy Faculty/Staff Fund, increase parking capacity, construct a new multi-purpose athletic stadium for football and soccer on the OLA site, and enhance existing outdoor athletic facilities.

JCA President/Principal Dr. Jeffrey Budz stated, “This extraordinary gift is a profound affirmation of the mission and future of Joliet Catholic Academy. Phyllis Olsta’s generosity will permanently strengthen our ability to serve families, grow our campus, and ensure that generations of students benefit from the Carmelite and Franciscan traditions she cherished.”

The City of Joliet Planning Commission recently granted unanimous approval of JCA’s Planned Unit Development application for the project. The proposal now moves to the Joliet City Council for a final vote, anticipated in December. Phase I of construction is projected to begin in spring 2026. To date, more than $7 million has been raised for outdoor facilities and land purchases, and over $12.5 million has been secured during the private fundraising phase. The public phase of the Legacy Campaign is set to launch in January 2026.

JCA Director of Institutional Advancement Ryan Quigley ’03 shared, “I will deeply miss the conversations and travels I shared with Phyllis over the past several years. She embodied St. Paul’s teaching that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Her selfless spirit will forever inspire the JCA community.”

For more information about the Legacy Campaign for Joliet Catholic Academy, and to receive updates please visit https://www.jolietcatholicacademy.org/giving/legacycampaign.