Giving news
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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.
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Donor Spotlight: Adrienne Washington
With her scholarship fund, Adrienne will meet her first scholar this fall. It’s a milestone that blends her family’s enduring commitment to education with her dedication to LER and the next generation of HR leaders, ensuring that her grandmother’s values will continue to open doors for years.
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Unlocking Hope: Goldstick Initiative Amplifies Voices in Special Education
Phillip C. Goldstick and Beverly Kramer Goldstick have created a lasting legacy through their Goldstick Initiative, featuring an annual lecture and critical scholarships and fellowships in the study of communication disorders.
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From farm roots to paying it forward: Jim and Ellen Holmes invest in Illinois students
Ellen and Jim Holmes have turned their lifelong habit of saving and investing into a legacy for students through the James A. and Ellen C. Holmes Family Scholarship Fund to support students with financial need in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
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Thanks to the Noecker family
Earlier this month, a group gathered at House in the Woods to celebrate the recent renovation of Room 1, thanks to the generosity of the Joe Noecker family. Joe’s gift is in memory of his family, who have a rich history at Allerton: Ray and Vera Noecker and children Marilyn (Noecker) Sago, Jo Ann (Noecker) Shafer, and Don Noecker lived in the House in the Woods in the 1940s when they were caretakers of the Allerton Estate.
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Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Butkus Foundation Launch Partnership to Advance Life-Saving Cardiovascular Screening
Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Butkus Foundation have launched a new partnership to advance life-saving cardiovascular screenings. The partnership unites the Butkus Foundation’s national reach and advocacy with Carle Illinois’ expertise at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
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Gift from Holonyak Estate to transform student experience
A $12.25 million gift will support student excellence and honor one of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s most well-known innovators and educators.
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Gift to renovate Agnes’ Room in the Mansion
When Ken and Sari Aronson moved to East Central Illinois in 1988, they quickly fell in love with Allerton Park and Retreat Center. So when the couple decided to give back, they knew just where to go. They recently made a six-figure gift that will renovate Room 7 in the Mansion — known as Agnes’ room and named after the stepmother of estate creator Robert Allerton.