Providence College launches Beyond Limits: The Campaign for Providence College
By Vicki-Ann Downing ’21G
Providence College announced a $300 million fundraising campaign aimed at strengthening academics, enhancing the student experience, and making education more accessible through increased financial aid and scholarships.
Beyond Limits: The Campaign for Providence College, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in college history, was announced by College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G at a reception for benefactors on Friday, October 18, during Homecoming Weekend.
“Tonight, we launch the public phase of the Beyond Limits Campaign for Providence College,” Father Sicard said. “This campaign will enable us to create the foundation for sustained excellence that we owe to all who will follow us.
“We will always honor and remain faithful to our Catholic and Dominican mission and heritage. We will foster an institution known far beyond our region for our outstanding liberal arts-based education, our superb professional schools, and our ability to innovate to meet the moment. We will be renowned for providing a superior student experience, including varsity athletics, to ensure that our students flourish in mind, body, and spirit. We will renew our commitment to diversity that reflects the Catholic Church and the world around us by making PC accessible to all deserving and qualified students.”
Father Sicard said the college has already raised more than $165 million toward the goal during the quiet phase of the campaign. That includes a just-announced $10 million gift from Ronald P. Stride ’62, a retired financial services consultant who resides in Singapore, and his wife, Janet.
The campaign’s quiet phase also recorded a $10 million lead gift from Madeleine Mondor to support construction of the Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences, scheduled to open in January 2025. The campaign was also recently bolstered by a $1.09 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to fund Come to the Table, a mission-centric community project to encourage family participation in prayer.
The campaign launch event was hosted by Christina Schwab ’25, an English major from Havertown, Pennsylvania, and Jack Jozefowski ’26, a theatre major from Huntington, New York. Guests were treated to student performances and heard from men’s basketball coach Kim English and women’s basketball coach Erin Batth.
A video told the story of Marty Graham ’92, a student from Chicago who died after being diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer during his senior year. His classmates responded by establishing a scholarship in his memory — one of more than 600 endowed funds that help students finance their education.
The Beyond Limits campaign steering committee is chaired by three alumni who also are members of the Board of Trustees: Bill Concannon ’77, John McCarthy ’86, and Megan (Condron) Smith ’91.
McCarthy took the stage on Slavin lawn during the Homecoming Weekend celebration on Saturday afternoon to encourage alumni, families, and students to support the campaign, especially in its goal to raise money for student scholarships and financial aid.
“When we think about a future of Providence College, one of the deepest, best hopes we have is giving students who have the desire and will and tenacity to come here the opportunity to do just that,” McCarthy said. “For we know, everyone here, that becoming part of the Friar family is a life-changing event. Our ability to raise enough funds to allow anyone who wants to be here to be here is the ultimate goal.”
Smith said that incredible momentum has allowed the campaign to be halfway toward its goal.
“We have seen such incredible generosity and involvement from our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college,” Smith said. “Father Sicard’s vision is bold, and this campaign will enable Providence College to continue its upward ascent as one of the nation’s preeminent liberal arts colleges.”
The college’s previous fundraising campaign, Our Moment: The Next Century Campaign for Providence College, raised $185 million and concluded in 2017.
