Giving news
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From a chance invitation to a lifetime of impact
A chance Star Wars screening sparked a lifelong partnership — and a legacy of giving that continues to open doors for Illinois students.
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Siebel School and Cancer Center at Illinois announce the Ira R. Cohen Endowed Chair
The Ira R. Cohen Chair in Computer Science and Cancer Research has been created by a generous gift from Debra Cohen in memory of her late husband, Ira (GRAINGER ’80). This endowed chair will be held by a prominent faculty member in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering who is also a Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) member.
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Love Like Sean: Gies Business alumnus, family honors son’s legacy with scholarship
Sean Richards was a gifted, kind-hearted boy whose life and legacy inspired his family to create the Love Like Sean Foundation, dedicated to spreading joy and compassion after his tragic passing. Through the foundation and a new $1 million scholarship at Gies Business, his family hopes to support students who lead with empathy and character, ensuring Sean’s enduring impact on others.
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Generosity of Tracy’s to help Pine Room renovation
Ivesdale native Tim Tracy has known and loved Allerton Park for decades. The duo and park officials have announced a six-figure gift that will restore and renovate the Mansion Pine Room, a onetime library and office on the first floor that now hosts small corporate gatherings and classes. Their gift also provides an endowment to ensure that the space can be well maintained into the future.
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Media studies scholar Denise Bielby inspired to support Ebert Center through blended gift
As a major donor to the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies — which launched in 2022 with a special video message from Martin Scorsese — Denise Bielby offered a blended gift, which includes a multi-year current use cash gift as well as deferred estate gifts.
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Carrying Forward Her Legacy: Celebrating the impact of Kay Reeves Meginnis
Kay Reeves graduated from the University of Illinois College of Education in 1958 with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and completed her master’s degree in 1961. She went on to devote more than 30 years to teaching special needs students and to helping children understand that learning is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences one can have. To carry forward her legacy, her family created the Kay Reeves Meginnis Special Education Scholarship, honoring her deep love for and commitment to teaching students with special needs.
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On the Go with Dr. Roffey
Dr. David E. Roffey is a 1967 DVM graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and the founder of several companies, including Roffey Cattle Company. He recently established the Lyle E. and Alice J. Roffey, David E. Roffey DVM Scholarship Fund.
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Memorial scholarship established in honor of Zhong-Jin Ruan
The Department of Mathematics at Illinois Urbana-Champaign is sad to announce that Professor Emeritus Zhong-Jin Ruan has passed peacefully on September 20, 2025, at Carle Hospital. Zhong-Jin had a long and impactful career here at Illinois.
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Nobel winner supports cutting-edge cancer research at Illinois
A generous gift from Phillip (LAS ’69) and Ann Sharp is advancing the mission of the Cancer Center at Illinois.
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In challenging times, a legacy of mentorship and kindness lives on
Eric Jakobsson, an integral member of the University of Illinois and Champaign-Urbana communities for 50 years, is remembered for his legacy of kind and thoughtful leadership. Until his death in 2021, he was an intelligent, calm, and seemingly tireless source of ideas and mentorship in every realm of his life: his family, his laboratory group, his city, and the scientific circles he helped to bridge. Now, a gift made by his wife Naomi Jakobsson is continuing his legacy through timely and impactful support to research trainees at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.