On behalf of the Dads Association at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, it is my great honor and privilege to welcome you to the university and to introduce your family to the oldest parent organization in the United States.
The 2022 academic year marks the “Illini Dads” centennial year as we celebrate our 100th year of philanthropic support of the U of I community with the dedication of Illini Dads Centennial Plaza during Dads Weekend on November 4, 2022. We are excited to share this important addition to the campus that will honor the role of father figures in the lives of their Illini students and provide an inspirational outdoor space and unique public art mural reflecting the love, acceptance, and support we all need from each other.
The Dads Association is available to provide parents and students with important and valuable resources to support the entire Illinois experience.
Every father figure of a U of I student is automatically granted complimentary membership in the Dads Association. If you register on our website, www.IlliniDads.com, you will be added to our mailing list and get early access to purchase Dads Weekend tickets, regular updates on campus activities, hints to help your student, information on what the Dads Association is doing in the campus community, and further information concerning the Illini Dads Centennial Plaza. You can also follow the Dads Association on Facebook and Twitter.
We Award Scholarships and Grants
The Dads Association is not only an important information resource, it is a significant philanthropic organization. The Illini Dads annually award in excess of $25,000 per year in student scholarships and grants for student and community organizations that support UIUC students. We have awarded over $1 million during the past 100 years.
We Organize Dads Weekend
We are the primary sponsor and organizer of Dads Weekend, which is held in the fall during a football weekend. We have events throughout the weekend, including a pregame BBQ; discount priced football, basketball, volleyball, and hockey tickets; a Saturday night concert; and a Sunday brunch. We also host our annual 5K fun-run on Sunday morning. Selling tickets for these events is our primary fundraiser each year with the proceeds used to fund U of I student scholarships and grant programs. If you are making plans to come to Dads Weekend, you will be able to purchase your event tickets through the Dads Association website starting in July.
We Anoint a King Dad
During Dads Weekend, we annually select and honor the King Dad. Students are invited to nominate their amazing dad/father figure and tell us why they think their dad/father figure deserves to be King Dad for the weekend. Our Board reviews all the nominations and chooses one deserving individual, who gets the royal treatment for the entire weekend, including a hotel room at the Illini Union, a pre-game meal with the Chancellor, luxury suite tickets to the football game with recognition on the field and on the Jumbotron during the game, tickets to all our events, and special Illini gifts. Information regarding how to submit a King Dad nomination is available at www.IlliniDads.com .
Want to Get Involved?
The Dads Association is also always looking for new Board members. Much like the athletic teams that the university fields, our Board changes yearly, as members are dads of current students. If you are looking for a way to get involved with campus life and make a positive impact on the student and university community, please consider volunteering for the Dads Association Board of Directors.
Again, welcome to the Dads Association at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and GO ILLINI!
Larry Mason
President - Board of Directors
Dads Association at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
