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University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chair commits $100K for UIC’s frontline health care workers

University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chairman Don Edwards and his wife, Anne Edwards, both alumni of the University of Illinois, have pledged $100,000 to establish the UI Health Employee Relief Fund, which will support health care workers at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, or UI Health.

A Message from the Foundation’s Investment Office

As we navigate a challenging and global health crisis with possibly large and negative financial and economic impacts, the Foundation’s Investment Office would like to reiterate some of our guiding principles:

Statement on COVID-19

Serving the generous and loyal supporters of the University of Illinois is always a top priority. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to do our best to stay connected to our donors while also looking out for the health and well-being of our employees. We have canceled events, taken measures to allow many of our staff members to work remotely, reduced in-person meetings, and restricted non-essential travel.

Gov. Pritzker Highlights Vision for Innovation and Economic Development with $500 Million Commitment to IIN and DPI

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced today he is releasing $500 million in state funding set aside for development of our Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) and Illinois Innovation Network (IIN). The significant state appropriation will support planning and construction of DPI’s permanent facility in downtown Chicago and IIN hubs at each of our three universities, on our satellite campuses in Peoria and Rockford, and at every public university across the state. We are working to break ground for DPI within 2020 and to begin construction on some IIN hubs soon.

Don, Anne Edwards donate $10 million to U of I

University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chairman Don Edwards and his wife, Anne, on Wednesday announced a $10 million gift to their alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – the largest gift ever by a U of I trustee.

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CASE V Award Winners Announced; List Includes Three from the University of Illinois System

CASE District V annually recognizes excellence in the district. The organization recently announced 2019 awards which includes several honorees from within the University of Illinois System.

FY 2019 fundraising report one of the highest in history for the U of I Foundation; U of I System campaign progress soars to 75.7 percent toward goal

URBANA, Ill. — The University of Illinois System and the University of Illinois Foundation announced today an impressive fundraising report for fiscal year 2019 with $462.9 million in new business, comprised of new gifts, grants, pledges, and deferred commitments.

Fundraising for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was second only to last year’s impressive $498.5 million, and marks just the third time that the fiscal year total surpassed $400 million. The Foundation first reached the $400 million milestone in fiscal year 2013 with $434.9 million in new business.

Illinois Engineering to become the Grainger College of Engineering

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s College of Engineering will become The Grainger College of Engineering, recognizing a new $100 million gift from The Grainger Foundation and more than $300 million in total support, after consultation with the Chancellor’s Joint Advisory Committee on Investment, Licensing, and Naming Rights and pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SYSTEM CROSSES $2 BILLION MARK

In October 2017 the University of Illinois System officially launched a comprehensive fundraising initiative with an ambitious $3.1 billion goal. Now, less than a year and a half into the public campaigns, the U of I System has surpassed the $2 billion mark—or 64.8%—in funds raised toward this goal.  

More than 192,000 donors have already contributed to the success of this fundraising initiative that is built on unique and individual campaigns for each of the U of I System’s universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield.

Christy Devocelle - 2019 Athena Award Winner

The foundation’s very own senior vice president and chief financial officer, Christy Devocelle, was named the 2019 Athena Award Winner by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. Her service to charitable organizations and commitment to developing future leaders made her this year’s candidate of choice. Congratulations, Christy!