JPCatholic Launches “Build for Impact” Capital Campaign

John Paul the Great Catholic University is announcing a multi-year $18M comprehensive capital campaign to provide student scholarships, a dedicated chapel, and a creative arts academic complex.

The “Build for Impact” campaign represents three key projects:

1. Creative Arts Academic Complex

Remaining funding need: $4M

The Creative Arts Academic Complex was purchased in 2016 for $3.1M with a $1.5M gift from the Caster Family Trust and debt financing. The structurally sound 30,620 sq. ft. building sits on 1.3 acres and requires significant renovation. Our vision is to divide this structure into two separate buildings (Cinematic Arts and Visual Arts) connected by a courtyard, which will serve as a venue for community events, outdoor performances, and student life. This complex will expand our current academic capabilities and campus exponentially, and equip our growing student body with the resources needed to create impactful art and more.

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2. St. Teresa of Calcutta Chapel

Remaining funding need: $5M

St. Teresa of Calcutta Chapel is critical to the spiritual formation of our students. The Sacraments are central to our mission to Impact Culture for Christ, and a beautiful sacred space is critical for the formation of the inquiring minds and creative imaginations of our students. We acquired this historic 10,000 sq. ft. Mediterranean Revival structure in July 2016 for $800K. Designed by Louis Gill, one of the greatest architects in San Diego’s past, it was built in 1925. After our planned renovation, the Chapel will seat 300.

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3. Student Scholarships

Remaining funding need: $3.2M

Our largest and most critical ongoing financial need is funding for institutional financial aid, which most students require. $26M in institutional financial aid has been awarded since 2006 with $3.7M awarded in FY 2019/20. Families are experiencing ever greater financial need and require more scholarship aid. For low-income, and, increasingly, middle-income families, generous financial aid is often the deciding factor on whether their student can attend JPCatholic or not. Our #8 position in Social Mobility in the 2021 US News Regional Colleges West ranking is a testimony to our efforts to enroll and graduate disadvantaged students.

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So far $5.8M has already been funded, representing 32% of the campaign goal.

“On this Giving Tuesday, generous people all around the world celebrate the great privilege of giving back,” said Dr. Derry Connolly, Founding President of JPCatholic. “The search for truth, beauty, and goodness is central to JPCatholic’s academic programs. It shapes our pursuit of creative, intellectual, and entrepreneurial excellence and challenges our graduates to deliver on our core mission to Impact Culture for Christ. From the store of blessings that God has shared with you, your gift of a truly authentic Catholic higher education to a student with great need is worthy of your consideration. Thank you in advance for prayerfully discerning what gift God is calling you to make.”

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