Loyola Concludes Most Successful Campaign in School History

In the spring of 2022, Loyola Academy concluded its most successful capital campaign in school history. Spanning 10 years and raising more than $76 million, the Second Century Campaign surpassed its fundraising goal and has ushered in a new era at Loyola—one defined by amplified funding for tuition assistance, a transformed campus and reimagined programming that will benefit generations of Ramblers to come.
View the Second Century Campaign Impact Report.

The Second Century Campaign emerged shortly after Loyola Academy passed its 100th anniversary in 2009. It supports ongoing scholarship, enriched academic and athletic opportunities and innovation across the curriculum and programming. We celebrate the tremendous spirit and generosity of the Loyola community which sustains our mission, drives our tradition of excellence and profoundly impacts our future. 

“Thanks be to God! This remarkable campaign is a testimony to the strength, vision and generosity of our Rambler community,” says Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, whose extraordinary vision guided much of the work of the campaign. “What this campaign means for Loyola is beyond what numbers can measure, but best rendered by the increased potential and preparedness of our graduates and the strengthening of our Jesuit and Catholic mission.”

By the Numbers: Campaign Fast Facts

The incredible support of the Loyola Academy community made possible the ambitious dreams that began to take shape more than a decade ago. Alumni, past and current parents and friends of the Academy supported the campaign with tremendous generosity, far exceeding the original fundraising goal of $70 million. 

“Ultimately, the success of the Second Century Campaign rests on the shoulders of our supporters, whose generous gifts turned ambitious dreams into concrete reality,” says Vice President of Advancement Bob Miller. “Our community motivated us to dream big and ask, ‘What more can we do?’ and ‘How far can we go?’ Through gifts both large and small, we were able to reshape our campus and bolster programming beyond our wildest dreams.”  

Gifts to the campaign ranged in size from $25 to more than $23 million—an extraordinary gift which stands as the single largest donation in school history, made in 2016 by the estate of John D. Norcross ’54.

We are immensely grateful to the following benefactors for their single leadership gifts or pledges of $1 million or more:

Anonymous—Second Century Reserve Fund
The Helen V. Brach Foundation—Science & Technology Initiative
Charles and Marie Caestecker Foundation—Ignatian Educator Initiative
Karen and Gary Gardner—Science & Technology Initiative
Ellen S. and Peter G. Leemputte ’75—Theater Initiative 
Teresa B. and Robert G. Lewandowski—Science & Technology Initiative
Estate of John D. Norcross ’54—Pool and Theater Initiatives 
Mary and L. Robert Pasquesi ’62—Theater Initiative
Shirley and Patrick G. Ryan—Second Century Reserve Fund
Robert J. and Louise V. Sanborn—Pool, Theater and Science Initiatives  
Mr. F. Quinn Stepan Sr. '55 and Mrs. Jean F. Stepan RIP —Ignatian Educator Initiative
Sue and Tim Sullivan—Science & Technology Initiative
The friends and family of the late Dr. Alan W. Yasko—Science & Technology Initiative

Looking Back: A Decade of Milestones

The bold vision that would illuminate the next decade of Loyola’s strategic planning took root in 2012. At the time, dreams of a new aquatic center, state-of-the-art science labs and a dazzling new theater were purely aspirational. Soon, a fundraising campaign took shape, and we embarked on an expansive Campus Master Plan. 

2012: Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, and Loyola's Board of Trustees announce A Strategic Vision for Loyola Academy—an ambitious strategic plan that would position Loyola as the leading Jesuit, college preparatory faith and education center in the nation.

2013: To transform vision into reality, Fr. McGrath and the Board of Trustees unveil The Second Century Campaign, a set of strategic priorities designed to generate support for a second century of excellence. They identify six fundraising priorities: the Tuition Assistance Endowment Initiative, Theater Initiative, Pool Initiative, Second Century Reserve Fund Initiative, Ignatian Educator Initiative, and New Science Labs and Technologies Initiative.

2016: Loyola reaches a turning point in its fundraising efforts, thanks to the collective generosity of the visionary benefactors who made major gifts during the quiet phase of the Second Century Campaign and a multimillion dollar gift from the estate of John D. Norcross ’54.

2017: Loyola’s Board of Trustees approves a Campus Master Plan and forms a Campus Master Planning Committee, chaired by Peter J. Broccolo ’74, to partner with the Village of Wilmette and Loyola’s neighbors. Working together, they devise a structure to guide the work and building projects, with the pool coming first in Phase One followed by the theater in Phase Two, all the while continuing to raise money for tuition assistance. 

2018: Loyola recruits world-class architectural design and construction firms to begin construction on a new pool and piazza, a gathering space inspired by the St. Ignatius Piazza in Rome. Valenti Builders President Daniel J. Valenti ’01, Project Manager Jack Scapin ’98 and Senior Superintendent Daniel A. Nowak ’83—all Loyola Academy alumni—transform our blueprints into bricks and mortar. During this time, other Phase One capital enhancement projects, including our seventh and final science lab upgrade, progress.  

2019: The Loyola Academy community celebrates the completion of Phase One of our Campus Master Plan and grand opening of the John D. Norcross ’54 Aquatic Center and the Mary and L. Robert ’62 Pasquesi Piazza. In addition, new campus lighting, directional signs and landscaping are installed. General site work, such as reconfigured drop-off and pickup lanes as well as new and expanded south student parking lot, is completed. And Loyola’s new STEAM lab—made possible by a leadership gift from Sue and Tim Sullivan and named in honor of former science teacher Rev. Peter W. Breslin, SJ—opens for student use. 

2021: Thanks to the generosity of Loyola Academy benefactors, including a multimillion dollar gift from Ellen S. and Peter G. Leemputte ’75, Loyola Academy breaks ground on its new 29,000 square-foot Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Leemputte Family Theater. 

2022: The new Center for the Performing Arts takes center stage, with a grand opening Fall 2022 season. The $27 million, 29,000 square-foot arts facility transforms the northeast corner of our campus and includes a theater and an outdoor performance area. Members of the Loyola community have the opportunity to become a part of LA history by naming one of the theater’s 550+ seats. 


Campaign Achievements: From Vision to Reality 

The Second Century Campaign emerged shortly after Loyola Academy passed its 100th anniversary in 2009. Its goal was to support the school’s Strategic Vision put forth by Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, and Loyola’s Board of Trustees. Six fundraising priorities were identified to support ongoing scholarships, enriched academic and athletic opportunities and innovation across the curriculum, positioning Loyola as the leading Jesuit, college preparatory, faith and education center in the nation.

Tuition Assistance Endowment Initiative
$22.9 million raised by 5,263 donors

Leadership gifts: Jack Jennings '97, Robyn Jennings DeKay '04 and Todd Jennings '10, Carroll C. and Stephen V. King, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Kathy and John Schreiber '64, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Sullivan '72

The Tuition Assistance Endowment Initiative generated support for named and endowed scholarship funds to provide a permanent source of tuition assistance revenue for qualified students. 

Theater Initiative
$25.8 million raised by 418 donors

Leadership gifts: Ellen and Peter Leemputte ’75, Mary and L. Robert Pasquesi ’62

Loyola’s new 29,000 square foot Center for the Performing Arts transformed the northeast corner of the campus and includes a 550+ seat theater and indoor & outdoor performing spaces that support a vibrant arts program for all Loyola students. This initiative represents a long-anticipated expansion of resources and facilities that will benefit all Loyola students and expand access to a broader network of community partners, neighbors and friends.  

Pool and Piazza Initiative
$17.3 million raised by 995 donors

Leadership gifts: the estate of John D. Norcross ’54, Louise V. and Robert J. Sanborn

The John D. Norcross ’54 Aquatic Center is home to an eight-lane, IHSA-approved, competition-size pool that enhances the aquatic experience of every Rambler—from the nonswimmer in need of basic water safety and swimming.

Second Century Reserve Fund Initiative
$6.3 million raised by 411 donors

Leadership gifts: Beatrice P. Delany Trust, H. Patrick Hackett Jr. ’69, Katherine and James P. Hickey ’75, Shirley and Patrick G. Ryan

The Second Century Reserve Fund Initiative has laid a financial foundation for excellence and helps to ensure Loyola’s financial stability. The fund provides a critical cushion against unexpected events, disruptions in cash flow and unanticipated expenses while enabling Loyola to take advantage of strategic opportunities as they arise. 

Ignatian Educator Initiative
$1.4 million raised by 230 donors

Leadership gifts: Charles and Marie Caestecker Foundation, Mr. F. Quinn Stepan Sr. '55 and Mrs. Jean F. Stepan RIP

The Ignatian Educator Initiative enhanced opportunities for the educators who carry out our distinctive Jesuit mission. In 2013, the Canisius Program was implemented to foster the development of master educators committed to the Ignatian imperatives of academic integrity, leadership, creativity, originality, intellectual competence and love of God. 

Science & Technology Initiative
$3.1 million raised by 616 donors 

Leadership gifts: the Helen V. Brach Foundation, Martha and Bill Forsyth, Karen and Gary Gardner, Teresa B. and Robert G. Lewandowski, Louise V. and Robert J. Sanborn, Sue and Tim Sullivan, the friends and family of the late Dr. Alan W. Yasko

The Science & Technology Initiative generated support for technological enhancements such as Loyla’s One-to-One iPad Program and the development of a dedicated science wing with twelve state-of-the-art, multimedia laboratories for chemistry, physics and integrated life science. A new STEAM lab—with a chemistry lab, think tank and makerspace—paves the way for creative, collaborative learning in the STEAM disciplines: science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. All together, this initiative helps to maintain our tradition of excellence in science education and promotes a high level of scientific and technological literacy in our student population to inspire the next wave of scientific research, innovation and discovery.

Learn more at goramblers.org/thank-you.
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