Illinois State University receives $1 million for scholarships

Fall Hall
Illinois State University launched a $150 million Redbirds Rising campaign this week. (Photo by B Corbin/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Illinois State University is using a $1 million gift to establish a scholarship program that helps students who have faced significant financial challenges.

ISU officials say the program is a partnership with Give Something Back, a charity that Lockport native Robert Carr founded in 2003 to provide scholarships to students in need of financial aid to help them attend college and graduate. Carr said he grew up under humble financial circumstances and received a $250 college scholarship from the local women’s club.

The gift to ISU enabled the university to fund tuition and room and board for up to 50 ISU students.

It’s part of ISU’s Redbirds Rising campaign which aims to raise $150 million for the university.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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