St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin is building a $5 million performing arts center thanks to a financial donation from two alumni, school officials said.
Brothers Geoff Fox and Robert Fox are providing the money needed to build what will be called the Fox Family Performing Arts Center at the 335 Locust St. school, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
The Fox family “has always been very generous. They reached out recently to do a fine art building over a year ago,” Superintendent Brian Tekampe said.
Planning has started, and school officials are working with the donors “to make sure the vision we see aligns with them as well,” he said. Construction is expected to start next summer.
St. Edward’s performance stage has been part of the school gym since the early 1950s. One of the school’s goals under its 2000 strategic plan was to strengthen its performing arts program but progress was hampered by limited financial resources, officials said.
The Fox Family Performing Arts Center will serve the needs of students and foster creativity, imagination and a unique space on campus that will benefit the entire community, Tekampe said.
Don Haefliger, a former St. Edward’s English and drama teacher for more than 40 years, will lead a committee of volunteers in developing a functional design in partnership with the architecture firm of Perkins and Will.
“As the design and development phase of the Fox Family Performing Arts Center progresses, St. Edward High School looks forward to continuing to work on this inspiring project, and we are deeply grateful to Geoff and Bob for this opportunity,” said Jan Schroeder, advancement coordinator and business manager.
The Fox brothers, founders of the Fox Head sports and clothing brand, both attended St. Edward — Bob having graduated and Geoff a student there until his senior year, when their family moved to California.
In 2015, their donation to the school funded the renovation of St. Edward’s Fox Science Center.
St. Edward’s opened in Elgin community in 1941 with 42 freshmen and 40 sophomores filling eight classrooms in what had been the G.P. Lord School, purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford for the purpose of being a new high school, according to the school’s web page.
The school will celebrate its anniversary with a variety of events throughout the school year, officials said.
“The values and lessons our students learn while at St. Edward High School remain with them throughout their lives making them better citizens now and as adults,” Tekampe said. “St. Edward is a community that works together for the betterment of the students.”
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
