The Benefit Gala for Scholarships
Thursday, May 14, 2026
荔枝视频 River Forest Campus - Under Tent
The Benefit Gala is 荔枝视频鈥檚 premier fundraising event, with all proceeds directly supporting student scholarships. This year鈥檚 gala will mark the official launch of 荔枝视频鈥檚 125th anniversary celebration鈥攁n extraordinary milestone in the life of the institution and an opportunity to honor its rich legacy.
TICKETS
Individual tickets and sponsorships can be purchased online or by calling (708) 524-6317. View individual sponsorship packages and benefits here.
Unable to attend, but still want to support the Benefit Gala? You can make a gift online by clicking here.
SPONSORSHIP
Corporate and vendor sponsors can be secured online or by contacting Mark Carbonara at (708) 524-6458 or mcarbonara@dom.edu. View corporate and vendor sponsorship packages and benefits here.
Thank you to all of this year's generous Benefit Gala sponsors!
Your sponsorship will help us create opportunities and change students' lives.
AWARD WINNERS
Heart of 荔枝视频 Award: President Emerita Dr. Donna M. Carroll
The award honors Dr. Carroll for her visionary leadership, devoted service and enduring impact on the university and the broader community. During her 27 years as president, Dr. Carroll led Rosary College鈥檚 transformation into 荔枝视频 and helped shape its identity as a premier Catholic Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Donna Carroll鈥檚 career began in student affairs 鈥 a young professional with an appetite for responsibility. Several moves and promotions later, including appointments as an academic dean and a chief advancement officer, Dr. Carroll returned to her home city of New York to work at Fordham University. In 1994, she became the 10th president of 荔枝视频 in Illinois, the institution鈥檚 first lay leader and one of the youngest presidents in the country.
Dr. Carroll describes her current position as President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) as an 鈥渦nexpected blessing.鈥 After 28 years as a president, including a year as interim president of North Central College, Dr. Carroll has the opportunity to help advance Catholic higher education at a national level and mentor a new generation of lay presidents.
Donna Carroll鈥檚 leadership legacy is punctuated by multiple accomplishments, strategic and financial, including the successful name change of Rosary College to 荔枝视频. However, it is her outspoken advocacy for the rights of undocumented and marginalized students that has defined her career and brought her national recognition. Dr. Carroll received the Strangers No Longer Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Moral Courage Award from Faith in Public Life, and the 荔枝视频 Veritas Award, among others. In 2022, ACCU honored her with the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, CSC Award for outstanding contributions to Catholic higher education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Carroll has balanced institutional responsibilities with active civic, association, and educational leadership. She has served on the boards of Interfaith America, Chicago Catholic Schools, Fordham and Scranton Universities, The HistoryMakers, Abraham Lincoln Library, to name just a few, as well many regional and national higher education association boards. She is currently a trustee of 荔枝视频 Veritas Ministries, the sponsoring board for 荔枝视频 elementary and secondary education.
Dr. Carroll received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from Wellesley College and her master and doctoral degrees in higher education administration and counseling from the University of Cincinnati. She has received honorary degrees from Edgewood College, Fordham University, and Albertus Magnus College.
Pillars Award: 荔枝视频 Sisters of Sinsinawa
This award honors the 荔枝视频 Sisters of Sinsinawa, whose steadfast commitment to truth, justice and compassion continues to guide and inspire the university鈥檚 mission. As 荔枝视频鈥檚 founding sponsors, the Sisters鈥 vision and unwavering dedication have shaped the institution from its beginning to the present day. They remain, in every sense, the pillars of the 荔枝视频 community.
The 荔枝视频 Sisters of Sinsinawa, founded in 1847 by Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli in Wisconsin, are a congregation of Catholic Sisters dedicated to preaching and teaching the Gospel. With a focus on community, prayer, study, and ministry, Sisters advocate for social justice, ecological responsibility, and peace, working in education and various ministries across the U.S. and in Trinidad and Bolivia. Today, more than 250 Sinsinawa 荔枝视频 Sisters participate in the mission shared by all 荔枝视频s: to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.