blog posts Alumnus Nate Reichard donates $5 million to elevate real estate program Apr 25, 2025 8:45 am Gies College of Business has received a $5 million gift from alumnus Nate Reichard, CEO of Reichard Capital. In recognition, the Real Estate Finance Academy will be renamed the 'Reichard Real Estate Academy.' Explore campus crowdfunding projects that bring Illini together to make a big impact! Mar 3, 2025 11:15 am Whether you’re passionate about powering the Marching Illini, fueling a scholarship, or joining the fight against food insecurity, your support can create a lasting impact! Check out projects that need your support. To last a lifetime: Love of reading leads Illini couple to support next generation of writers Feb 13, 2025 2:00 pm They met during their first weekend on campus, and have been together since. Now the Kaplans are sharing their love of literature (and Illinois) by sponsoring the Creative Writing Program’s Kaplan Family Writer-in-Residence Series. Gift establishes Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy Sep 24, 2024 1:30 pm A climate-smart circular bioeconomy puts recycling, regeneration at the center of food growth and processing. The aim is to reduce the use of fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals, and instead use technological and biological resources. Gilmore Business and Social Innovation Fund will support experiential learning May 20, 2024 11:30 am This fund, established by Deryk and Camille Gilmore, aims to foster equitable opportunities for students interested in experiential learning and commemorates the legacy of Dr. Paul Magelli who impacted the lives of thousands of students. Giving Tuesday: Support basic needs for Illinois students Nov 28, 2023 9:15 am When students are facing unplanned emergencies, health challenges, and more, academic success can feel unattainable. We want our students to do more than survive—we want them to thrive. $4.5 million gift will support brain health innovation Jun 9, 2023 9:45 am The gift from the late Edward (Rick) Heiken emphasized the development and deployment of state-of-the-art assessment of cognitive and brain health, with special interest in being able to conduct assessments remotely. Khan family gift elevates cancer care for pets Sep 8, 2022 3:00 pm Business leader Shahid Khan, his wife Ann Margaret Khan, and their children Tony and Shanna Khan – all graduates of the U of I – have made a gift of $15 million that will transform the integrated oncology program at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Grant supports online Women, Power, and Money Program for Financial Planning Aug 5, 2022 11:45 am The Women, Power, and Money Program familiarizes students with financial planning fundamentals and negotiation skills, and empowers them to make confident decisions and overcome sexism and other obstacles in the workplace. Stan, Judy Ikenberry make significant gift toward Beckman Café renovation Aug 3, 2022 10:45 am President Emeritus Stan Ikenberry was the driving force behind the creation of the Beckman Institute at Illinois in 1989. He and his wife are still contributing to its excellence. College of Media announces Ebert Center for Film Studies Feb 21, 2022 10:30 am Gifts totaling more than $5 million from a collection of donors - inspired by a lead gift from Roger and Chaz Ebert - funding will support annual programming, including the Ebert Symposium, Ebert Lecture, and a screening series. Alumnus Stanley Choi’s $100K Bitcoin gift to fund blockchain education Jan 21, 2022 11:30 am Choi has immersed himself in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain, and believes it's imperative that students develop a fluency in those areas. His gift is believed to be one of the largest cryptocurrency gifts to a business school. Religion receives $1 million to establish program in Jain studies Jun 11, 2021 8:15 am The Department of Religion is receiving $1 million from a group of donors to establish Jainism as a course of study. It’s the largest gift that the department has ever received. Alumna’s $45M gift will create new home for Illinois Extension Jun 1, 2021 3:30 pm The gift will fund a new home for Illinois Extension. The Doris Kelley Christopher Illinois Extension Center will unite six state Extension offices currently on campus into one vibrant space. Orange Krush Foundation awards annual charitable grants Apr 16, 2021 9:00 am COVID eliminated the Orange Krush's traditional fundraising methods, but they raised money through Orange Krush boxes filled with various apparel. Also, proceeds from Brad Underwood-autographed fan cutouts were donated to the community grants. Illinois surpasses $2.25 billion fundraising goal early Mar 11, 2021 9:45 am As of March 1, 2021, the With Illinois campaign has recorded $2.268 billion in gifts and commitments. Reaching this milestone is cause for celebration, but officials say the campaign is far from finished. New scholarship will expand access to veterinary profession Feb 26, 2021 8:45 am 'My family and I wanted to put care into action and start removing the systemic barriers that have been preventing access to the veterinary profession for decades,' said Stephen Hadley, a 1987 Veterinary Medicine graduate. Help Illinois continue its innovative COVID-19 relief efforts Dec 14, 2020 3:15 pm In just a few months, we built a comprehensive testing, tracing and monitoring infrastructure that is unmatched anywhere in the country. Help us continue our innovative, imperative work to provide solutions for our campus and the world. Engineering alum pledges $1 million for Ubben expansion project Dec 8, 2020 8:45 am The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced a gift of $1 million from 1986 Grainger Engineering graduate Bryan Ingram and his wife, Patti, for the Ubben Basketball Complex renovation and expansion project. Nobel Laureate Phillip Sharp recalls key moment at Illinois Nov 20, 2020 9:30 am This was a significant turning point in Sharp’s young career - a turning point he is forever grateful to the University of Illinois for - and he went on to receive the 1993 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of RNA splicing. College of Media's largest gift establishes Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation Oct 12, 2020 10:15 am 'Now more than ever there is a critical need for good, solid, objective journalism in this country. We are encouraged our contribution will help create the highest level of learning for the next generation of journalists...' said Rich and Leslie Frank. Leadership Center receives largest-ever outright gift to Student Affairs Jun 8, 2020 1:30 pm 'Jane and Bill Donaldson's generosity will create groundbreaking opportunities for immersive engagement, focused on exemplary leadership competencies and real-world experience,' says Illinois Leadership director Gayle Spencer University initiates fundraising program for student relief Apr 21, 2020 12:30 pm The Illinois CARES: COVID-19 fund will help defray tuition, housing, other costs for students experiencing unexpected shortfalls due to COVID-19 – both for current needs, upcoming academic year. Yingying’s Fund announced at press conference Aug 19, 2019 12:00 pm The family of Yingying Zhang announced the creation of Yingying’s Fund, an endowment to assist international students in crisis and their families. Yingying’s Fund announced at press conference Aug 19, 2019 12:30 pm At a press conference at 10 a.m. on Monday morning, the family of Yingying Zhang announced the creation of Yingying’s Fund, an endowment to honor the Illinois scholar. Alumnus commits $1.5 million to the Department of Classics May 1, 2019 11:45 am The George Reveliotis Family Hellenic Studies Endowment will support a lecturer position in Classics, as well as scholarships, fellowships, and study abroad opportunities. Coming soon: The Grainger College of Engineering Apr 15, 2019 3:30 pm The renaming of the College of Engineering recognizes $300 million in support from The Grainger Foundation and honors distinguished alumnus William W. Grainger. ‘Validating a life well lived’: Track naming honors Gary Wieneke Apr 11, 2019 8:00 am For a group of Gary Wieneke's former student-athletes, some of whom competed nearly 50 years ago for him, their loyalty, admiration for their head coach is reflected in a gift that exceeds $1 million. Levenicks' gift to iSEE, NRES elevates U of I work in sustainability, environment Feb 21, 2019 8:30 am 'As a growing world population must address its increasing food, clean water, energy, shelter, and basic health needs — without doing damage to the environment — we need leaders to emerge.' Stu Levenick Bruce N. Barron and the REAM Foundation commit $5 million May 7, 2018 8:00 am In recognition of this investment in Gies College of Business, the academy will be renamed the Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership. College of Business receives $150 million naming gift Oct 26, 2017 8:30 am The College of Business at Illinois will be known as the Gies College of Business after an unprecedented investment from a distinguished alumnus. College of Medicine begins recruiting first - tuition free! - class Oct 16, 2017 8:30 am The Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the first engineering-based medical school, has received preliminary accreditation and is recruiting students for its first class Be a part of the U of I's $2.25 billion campaign Oct 13, 2017 8:00 pm Illinois’ largest, most ambitious philanthropic campaign was introduced to donors, alumni, faculty and staff, students and local community members Friday evening We give because we care Sep 24, 2016 10:00 am The 2016 Campus Charitable Fund Drive kicks off September 19, 2016. Pledge your support today and make a donation. University’s first Lincoln Scholars set to graduate May 9, 2016 1:30 pm Students earned degrees with scholarships tied to Lincoln Hall renovation Small but vibrant Program in Modern Greek Studies is expanding Dec 10, 2015 3:30 pm Gifts allow the program to offer more culture courses, develop a new academic minor and online courses, and improve cross-cultural understanding between the U.S. and Greece. Marajen Stevick Foundation gives $100,000 for journalism student internships Nov 10, 2015 12:00 pm A $100,000 donation from the Marajen Stevick Foundation in honor of former News-Gazette Publisher John Foreman will fund internships for young journalists at the University of Illinois. Klues Family Foundation gives $1 million to College of Media Oct 21, 2015 1:00 pm The gift will provide scholarship support to underrepresented students in advertising who have significant financial need. Jack Klues is a 1977 advertising graduate. Monsanto gift helps create state-of-the-art soils lab Sep 21, 2015 11:30 am "Investments such as this allow us to attract the best students in the world – students who will graduate and become the next generation of leading soil and crop scientists.” - Interim Chancellor Barb Wilson Skipping Christmas gifts, Illinois alumnae save to make mark on campus Jul 23, 2015 11:15 am By no longer buying Christmas and birthday gifts for each other, three Illinois alumnae and former Illini women’s basketball players were able to leave a more permanent campus reminder of their 40-year-old friendship. ACES students 'pay it forward' Apr 7, 2015 10:15 am The brainchild of ACES’ student advancement committee, the month-long “I Pay It Forward: Students Supporting Students” campaign helps provide scholarships funded by student donations. Long after renovation, Lincoln Scholars program still growing Mar 31, 2015 2:30 pm Funded mainly through donors, the scholarship program selected its first nine Lincoln Scholars in fall 2012. It’s been growing ever since, providing assistance to students with unmet financial need and good academic standing so they can attend the U of I. Giving: A Dixon Springs Agricultural Center internship Mar 19, 2015 1:15 pm For George Cmarik's 90th birthday, his family wanted to do something unique in his name and settled upon providing a student with an internship experience at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center. Student Jamie Goldberg Feb 16, 2015 4:15 pm As a small child Jamie Goldberg struggled to read, but a first grade teacher believed in her, and offered tutoring instead of labeling her learning disabled. It’s no surprise that Jamie now wants to be an elementary teacher.