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Athletic Director Josh Whitman will hold a press conference at 11 am CT to discuss the campaign goals and the Football Performance Center | Watch Here

CHAMPAIGN, IL - The University of Illinois launched its $2.25 billion "With Illinois" campaign on October 13, 2017. The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is an integral component of this ambitious university-wide fundraising initiative, which runs through 2022. Fighting Illini Athletics has the goal of raising $300 million to support the vision of becoming the nation's preeminent intercollegiate athletic program. Donated dollars will fund three pillars of excellence: student scholarships (through the I FUND); capital projects; and student-athlete enhancement.

"For Fighting Illini Athletics, this campaign is about pursuing a standard of excellence," Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. "It is about using athletics to advance the interests of the total university, and making our community and entire state a better, more enjoyable, prouder place to live. Now, while we are building, is when we need the support of our fans the most."

I FUND scholarships account for $70 million of the overall campaign goal for Fighting Illini Athletics. The I FUND, comprised of annual gifts and endowments, pays tuition, room and board, fees, and other associated expenses for more than 258 scholarships awarded by the DIA. In 2016-17, these expenses totaled more than $12 million of direct benefits for the student-athletes, with nearly $9 million in tuition, fees and campus room and board monies transferred back to the institution.

The athletic program intends to raise more than $200 million for capital projects, its second pillar of excellence. The cornerstone of these projects is the new Football Performance Center, a 112,000-square foot, $79.2 million facility that will adjoin the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. The new building, which will open in 2019, will feature spaces for offices, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, locker rooms and player development, recruiting, and meetings. In addition to the Football Performance Center, over the course of the campaign, the athletic program will announce several more exciting capital projects that are important to the future of Fighting Illini Athletics.

The final pillar of excellence, student-athlete enhancement, represents $30 million of the overall fundraising goal for Fighting Illini Athletics. This includes academic services, featuring academic advising, group and individual tutorial assistance, and learning enhancement specialists. It also incorporates personal development in areas such as nutrition, financial literacy, social media use, leadership, and diversity and inclusivity. Finally, it will encompass physical care and athletic development, in areas such as sports medicine, strength and conditioning, technology, and travel.

Support of Fighting Illini Athletics through the "With Illinois" campaign can be found at JOINTHEIFUND.COM or by calling the Office of Athletic Development at (217) 333-6595 in Champaign, or (312) 575-7850 in Chicago.