Hinsdale Couple Makes Second Major Gift to University of Illinois

The University of Illinois Foundation has announced a gift of $500,000 from Jerry and Ann Nerad of Hinsdale to support the Cline Center for Democracy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the Urbana-Champaign campus.

This gift, named the Jerry and Ann Nerad Research Assistantship Fund, will be used to support students in the Civic Leadership Program during their year of graduate study.

According to Prof. Peter Nardulli, director of the Cline Center, the Civil Leadership Program “enhances the intellectual, analytical and leadership skills of highly select, outstanding students from all majors on the U of I campus. Our Fellows have a strong desire to aspire for top leadership positions in American and global civic affairs.”

This is the second major gift the Nerads have made to the University of Illinois. In 2000, they committed $1 million to provide unrestricted support to the College of LAS and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Jerry, a 1964 U of I graduate, has been nominated by Sarah Mangelsdorf, dean of the College of LAS, to receive the 2007 Dean’s Quadrangle Award. He will accept this award on campus in October.

Longtime donors and advocates of the University, the Nerads have resided in Hinsdale since 1982. He is owner of TimeMed Labeling Systems in Burr Ridge, Ill., as well as The Inn of Naples, a resort property located in Naples, Fla.