Perry Family Charitable Foundation Donates $1 Million to Support Cristo Rey Students at Loyola University Chicago’s Arrupe College
The fund will support students to attend Arrupe without out-of-pocket costs and to graduate debt-free.
October 9, 2024
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Primary Contact:
Christian Anderson
canderson31@luc.edu
312.915.7266
CHICAGO – October 8, 2024
Loyola University Chicago has announced a $1 million gift from the Perry Family Charitable Foundation that will support graduates from Chicago-area Cristo Rey High Schools as they attend Arrupe College at Loyola. The gift will establish the Katsouros Scholars Fund, named in honor of Stephen N. Katsouros, S.J., the founding dean of Arrupe College.
The Katsouros Fund will provide vital tuition assistance, resources, and support to help students achieve their associate degree at Arrupe and successfully transition to pursue their bachelor’s degree. The Fund will enable students to attend Arrupe without out-of-pocket costs and to graduate debt-free.
“I am thrilled to be able to support both the Chicago-area Cristo Rey schools and Arrupe College students in honor of Fr. Steve Katsouros, his work in Jesuit education, and his friendship with the Perry family,” says Chris Perry, president, Perry Family Charitable Foundation. “The Cristo Rey schools and Arrupe are important to our family and the Chicagoland community.”
Arrupe College has a close, longstanding partnership with the Cristo Rey Network. Together, they create a pathway to higher education for underrepresented students. Since 2015, Arrupe has consistently welcomed 16 to 22 Cristo Rey graduates annually, comprising up to 11 percent of the College’s total enrollment. The retention rate for Cristo Rey students who enrolled at Arrupe in the fall of 2022 is nearly 80 percent. This builds on Cristo Rey students’ continuing record of accomplishment at Arrupe; 89 percent of the 2020 and 2021 cohorts have either earned their associate’s degree or are on track to receive it this August.
“Cristo Rey high school graduates have a long tradition of attending Arrupe College at Loyola University Chicago. This investment reflects that enduring partnership and the value of Jesuit education. We are deeply grateful to the Perry Family Charitable Foundation for their generous support of Cristo Rey students as they continue their journey at Arrupe College and beyond,” says Kelby Woodward, president and chief executive officer, Cristo Rey Network.
Furthermore, every Cristo Rey student who has completed an associate’s degree at Arrupe has enrolled in a bachelor’s program. Among them, 60 percent have continued their studies at Loyola, a testament to the quality of education they are receiving and the supportive community Arrupe fosters.
“Cristo Rey and Arrupe are both very close-knit,” says Alonda Luna Lopez (AA ’24). “I’ve learned that I can always communicate with my community and let them know when I need help.”
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About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, with nearly 16,600 students. The University has four campuses: three in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, as well as course locations in Vernon Hills, Illinois (Cuneo Mansion and Gardens), and a Retreat and Ecology Campus in Woodstock, Illinois. The University features 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. Ranked a leading national university by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is also among a select group of universities recognized for community service and engagement by prestigious national organizations including AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation. To learn more about Loyola, visit LUC.edu or follow us on Twitter via @LoyolaChicago.
