Realizing the Jesuit Vision for North Philadelphia
We stand today on the threshold of realizing the decades-old vision the Jesuits had for the Prep. At the center of it all is an unwavering devotion to our mission: caring for the minds, hearts, souls, bodies, and character of each student on his journey to becoming a Man For and With Others.
The Forever the Prep campaign calls each of us to act boldly to advance the Jesuit vision for St. Joseph’s Prep. This vision evolves, but the steadfast commitment to our mission has and will remain.
A Letter from the President
Dear Friends of the Prep,
Because of our roots, we are compelled to seek excellence in the pursuit of that which is for the greater glory of God. This is the mission that brought the Jesuits to Philadelphia in 1733 and gave rise to St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in 1851. With feet planted firmly in their present and eyes trained to the future, our predecessors knew that for the mission to thrive, animating this work would look different over time. This foresight — this vision — obligates us to continually evolve in how we offer this formational experience for every young man who comes to the Prep today and in the years to come.
John Marinacci P ’27
33rd President of St. Joseph’s Prep
Generations in the Making
Following the devastating fire in 1966 that destroyed two-thirds of the school’s campus, the Prep’s Jesuit leadership was at a crossroads; they made the crucial determination to remain in North Philadelphia, a pivotal decision that has impacted the formation of generations of young men and continues to be a source of pride for every student who comes to 17th & Girard.
Not only did the Jesuits mark their commitment to North Philadelphia by rebuilding the school, but they also planned to create a campus that would define the Prep as the leading high school in Philadelphia. Forever the Prep will COMPLETE THE VISION FOR OUR CAMPUS and SECURE OUR MISSION for generations to come.
Rebuilding at 17th & Girard
Phase 1
Exterior Restoration of the Church of the Gesu
Phase 2
Kelly Fieldhouse is completed
Phase 3
Jesuit Hall and Sauter Dining Hall are completed
Phase 4
The For Others Forever Campaign renovates existing and creates new academic and co-curricular interior facilities
Phase 5
The Forever the Prep Campaign fulfills the Jesuit Vision of a comprehensive campus
Rooted in Vision
Completing our campus in North Philadelphia
A CAMPUS COURTYARD offering educational, spiritual, and community spaces for academic, social, and faith-based opportunities
A SPIRITUAL WALKWAY providing a dedicated reflection area for our community, promoting our Catholic, Jesuit identity
A MULTI-PURPOSE ATHLETIC COMPLEX enriching the experience of every member of the Prep community: students, faculty, parents, alumni, and neighbors
A PARKING FACILITY improving convenience, safety, security, and quality of life for all who come to the Prep
Driven by Mission
Strengthening the endowment to secure our future
Financial Aid and Scholarships maintaining the Prep’s commitment to socioeconomic diversity
Mission and Ministry Funding perpetuating the Jesuit Charism among our community through formation and retreat opportunities
Professional growth opportunities fostering the continual development of our faculty and staff for the benefit of our students
Student Life Resources supporting the holistic experience of each student in our commitment to cura personalis
Rooted in Vision, Driven by Mission
A Moment Decades in the Making
From its earliest days, the Prep has evolved to meet the needs of its students in the present while planning for the future. Father Villiger’s move to 17th & Stiles, Fr. Ayd’s commitment to 17th & Girard, Fr. Sauter’s dedication to strategic growth—there has always been a vision to serve our mission today while planning for tomorrow. Always bold and with utter conviction, the Prep has grown to new heights because of deep roots. This has sustained us for 175 years. Forever the Prep is the cornerstone on which we will build the next 175.
Together, we will fulfill the Jesuit vision for North Philadelphia.
Together, we will be Forever the Prep.
Transformational Gifts
Lorie and Nick Howley '70 and The Howley Foundation Make Historic $74 Million Gift to Forever the Prep Campaign
Lorie and Nick Howley and The Howley Foundation have pledged $74 million to St. Joseph’s Prep’s Forever the Prep Campaign. This represents the largest gift ever given to a Catholic high school in the United States.
This gift, dedicated to transforming the Prep’s North Philadelphia campus, expanding the Howley Scholars Program, and increasing the school’s endowment, serves as the cornerstone of the Forever the Prep Campaign. With this latest commitment, the Howleys’ total investment in St. Joseph’s Prep is $80 million.
Donor Profile: J. Craig Hadden ’75
When Craig Hadden was considering a gift to the Forever the Prep Campaign, his wife Betty encouraged him to think big.
“She knows how much I love the Prep and she suggested that it was time for us to step it up and do more than we ever had before,” he says. After all, Betty and Craig have always been generous to the Prep, a place that is dear to his family. “As I get older, I find that I want to do more to support those organizations that have meant the most to me and the Prep is one of those very dear to my heart.”
Early Investors To The Forever The Prep Campaign
We are grateful to the alumni, parents, and friends who believed strongly in the vision for the future of St. Joseph’s Prep and joined us in the early portion of this campaign.
Forever the Prep
Campaign Committee
Co-Chairs
John Dawley P ’25
Retired VP, Sales for North America, Veeva Systems, Trustee
Honorary Chair
Campaign Executive Committee
- Joe Battaglini ’76
President, J. Battaglini PC - Chris Lawler P’22’24
Senior Advisor, Graham Partners Inc. - Charlie Lewis ’81 P’10
Retired Chief Investment Officer, Berwind Corporation, Trustee - Jim McHugh ’89 P’23
President, AGF Manufacturing, Inc., Trustee - Larry McKnight III ’94 P’28
Partner and Founder, Riverwards Group - Michael Moran ’74 P’07’10
Retired EVP, JLT RE - Bob Morris, Esq. ’68
Partner, Morris Wilson, PC - Michael Nutter ’75
Consultant, Michael Nutter LLC, Trustee - Chuck Parsons ’85 P’27
Partner/Mid-Atlantic Region P&C Leader, USI, Trustee - Chris Patackis P’25
Managing Engineer, Brown and Caldwell - Jon Runyan, Jr. ’15
Player, New York Giants - Mark Shaw P’16
Division President, Chubb Workplace Benefits, Chubb, Trustee - Pam Thompson
Philanthropist, Trustee
Together We Will Fulfill the Jesuit Vision for North Philadelphia
Contact us to Support Forever the Prep
Now is the moment to act! Together, we will fulfill the Jesuit vision for North Philadelphia and offer a transformative experience for generations of Prep students.
