JJC Foundation Receives Six-Figure Endowment from Alumna, Newbery Medal Winning-Author

The Joliet Junior College (JJC) Foundation has received a six-figure endowment gift from alumna and Newbery Medal Award winning-author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The donation will create the Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Endowed Scholarship at JJC and support students pursuing their education and personal development.

Naylor is a 1953 alumna, long-time JJC donor and an award-winning author best known for children’s and young-adult fiction. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to children’s literature, including the Newbery Medal for the children’s novel, “Shiloh.”  

When she was considering her gift to JJC, Naylor reflected on the selfless nature of teachers who often put their student’s needs ahead of themselves.  

“I have often thought that what I learned from my teachers had nothing to do with the subject matter,” said Naylor. “There was a teacher who once confided that because of her love of helping her pupils, she gave up the possibility of marriage and family. And when teachers were finally allowed to marry, she had lost the opportunity to marry young. Would I have been willing to do that? I’ve wondered. Even now, many teachers use their own money to buy school supplies or spend part of their vacations preparing lessons. How could we not want to give back to teachers who sacrificed for us?”

“The JJC Foundation is extremely grateful for Phyllis’ generous gift which will allow students to attend JJC to pursue their education,” said Kristi Mulvey, executive director of advancement and the JJC Foundation. “Endowed scholarships are a great way for donors and alumni to leave their legacy at our institution forever.”

Endowed scholarships are funded by donations from individuals where the principal amount donated is then invested. A portion of the investment, or interest earned, is then used to fund the subsequent scholarships year after year. This allows the scholarship to exist in perpetuity, providing financial assistance to students for generations to come.  

Naylor moved to Joliet with her family from Indiana when she was 12. She recalls being within walking distance to junior high, high school and college. Best of all, she now had her own bedroom at home, complete with a desk where she wrote her own stories without disruption. She was encouraged to continue writing when a teacher-turned-magazine editor asked her to submit interesting character-building stories.  

“I sent her a story called Mike’s Hero,” Naylor said. “And she sent me a check for $4.67. ‘Write more!’ she wrote, and I did. I had my first experience with someone other than my mother or a teacher, who thought I could write. ‘Maybe this was for real’, I decided.”

Naylor recalls when JJC was one large room in Joliet Central High School that probably was their library at the time. She would peek in as she passed, fascinated that she was watching college students. Over time Naylor made new friends and became involved in school activities like madrigals, choir and theater. Eventually she pursued her education at Joliet Junior College.  

“I was able to complete JJC in three semesters and had two teachers who were absolute tops,” said Naylor. “Catherine Wood, for speech and drama, where I learned to project my voice and entertain a class; and Mr. Puddicombe for physiology, who made every session informative and interesting.”  

During her career Naylor has written numerous books and short stories which explore themes such as family dynamics, friendships and growing up. Her works include picture books, novels and series across various genres, as well as half a dozen novels and non-fiction books for adults. Her books showcase her versatility and appeal. Naylor’s “Alice” and “Shiloh” series have been periodically challenged and banned by several libraries for their themes. Despite this, Naylor has received much acclaim for her works, earning many awards in addition to the Newbery Medal. Additionally, her 149th book has just been accepted for publication, reaching another milestone in her prolific career.

The Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and manages $35 million in assets with $18.5 million in endowed funds. The Foundation also awarded more than $1,000,522 million in donor-funded scholarships to students in the 2023-24 school year, exceeding the $800,000 gifted in 2022-23. Donors who are interested in an endowed scholarship should contact the JJC Foundation.

For media inquiries, please contact Katherine Smith, communications and media manager, at katherine.smith@jjc.edu or 815-280-2844. 

Photos © Gilbert