The $100 million gift from Larry Gies announced Tuesday afternoon is five times the largest previous donation to the University of Illinois athletics department. The Illini football program will now play its home games at Gies Memorial Stadium.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 9, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Larry Gies has made a nine-figure donation to University of Illinois athletics.

The university announced on Tuesday afternoon Gies’ $100 million gift to the Illinois athletics department on Tuesday afternoon and, in response the largest private donor gift in Illini athletics history and one of the largest single gifts ever received by a college athletics program, Illinois’ football stadium will now be known as Gies Memorial Stadium.

Gies, is the founder and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the largest and most successful privately held companies in the world. Madison Industries has helped build companies in a vast partifolio that includes filtration, medical diagnostics, life sciences, safety, rescue & firefighting equipment, industrial equipment, marine, instruments & controls, advertising, service outsourcing and indoor air quality industries.

"Larry Gies is a visionary leader who invests in people and organizations that impact the world around them," Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman said in a university release. “I want to thank him for his belief in Illinois Athletics and the ability of our program to change the lives of our student-athletes, to advance the mission of our broader university, and to uplift the many people and communities connected to our program, both directly and indirectly. This gift is the result of years of thought-provoking conversations and is the continuation of a long-term partnership with Larry that will benefit generations of student-athletes and advance this program to even greater heights. I am grateful to Larry for his trust and confidence, and we are excited to honor him, and his veteran father, by placing their family name alongside that of our beloved Memorial Stadium.”

The university releases states Gies is making the gift in memory of his late father, Larry Gies, Sr., a United States Army veteran. His father's unwavering dedication to his country and selfless service left a lasting impression on Gies, who now seeks to preserve his father's legacy through this remarkable gesture. Gies Memorial Stadium will continue to serve as a powerful symbol honoring all soldiers who have fought bravely to protect our nation's freedom. Through this contribution, Gies hopes to inspire remembrance, gratitude, and continued support for our nation's men and women in uniform.

"This gift is about honoring my father, a true patriot, and every brave soul who has worn or will wear the uniform to defend our country," said Gies via the university release. “With this investment, we can ensure that this stadium continues to be a place where their sacrifices will never be forgotten—and a shining light for every American who protects our freedom in the future.”

Gies’ $100 million gift is five times what was the largest private gift, which isn’t part of a corporate sponsorship deal with Illini athletics. Before Tuesday’s announcement, the largest single private gift to University of Illinois athletics department was a $20 million donation from Henry Dale and Betty Smith in 2018, which, in exchange with the Smith family, resulted in the Illini football building being officially named the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center.

Gies’ donation is still pending until it gets approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its next meeting on September 17, 2025 in Urbana.

“We are profoundly grateful to Larry for this extraordinary gift," said Chancellor Charles L. Isbell Jr. via the university release. “His generosity not only honors the memory of his father and all who have served, but it also ensures that our stadium will continue to stand proudly as a lasting tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and loyalty of our veterans for the next 100 years and beyond."

Gies has a long history of support for the armed forces, education, health, and athletics. He was the 2023 recipient of the Semper Fidelis Award, the highest award given by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, for his commitment to providing need-based scholarships to military children. In education, he serves as the president of the Gies Foundation, which focuses on democratizing education and enhancing health, and which was instrumental in establishing the Gies Campus of Chicago Jesuit Academy, a tuition-free school for students in grades three through eight on the city's West Side. In 2017, in recognition of a $150 million gift from the Gies family, the University of Illinois renamed its leading business school as the Gies College of Business.

"Sports is how most people first experience the University of Illinois – it's the front door of the amazing house we are building," said Gies via the university release. "Josh and the entire DIA team embody the ethos that is so important to our beloved University. I fully support Josh's mission and the culture he has built at Illinois Athletics. Illini sports moments bring our Orange & Blue community closer together, and I am so looking forward to the memories we create together in the coming years.”