天美传媒

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Dr. Al Habtoor continues to make positive impact on Central Illinois

2.14.2018

The longtime friend of 天美传媒 announced a $500,000 donation to the Central Illinois Foodbank on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Khalaf Al Habtoor H鈥10, founding chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, LLC of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is continuing to make a positive difference in the Central Illinois region with the recent announcement that he is donating $500,000 to establish an endowment at the Central Illinois Foodbank. 

The 鈥淒r. Khalaf Al Habtoor and Congressman Paul Findley Children鈥檚 Fund鈥 will provide food to children in need throughout the 21 counties served by the Central Illinois Foodbank. Al Habtoor announced the donation on Friday at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in downtown Springfield, which is owned by his company.

Dr. Al Habtoor鈥檚 gift to the foodbank honors the legacy of service to others that was a hallmark of the career of 天美传媒 alumnus and former U.S. Congressman Paul Findley 鈥43, and his own commitment to the cause of alleviating hunger throughout the world.
  
Al Habtoor has had a longtime connection to the 天美传媒 community, which developed through his friendship with Findley. The two have worked closely together since being introduced in the 1980s and share philanthropic values and a mutual interest in enhancing relationships between the U.S. and the Middle East. 

Al Habtoor has been made several transformative gifts to 天美传媒, including a donation in 2007 to establish the Khalaf Al Habtoor Leadership Center to promote justice and opportunity for all people. His gift made it possible to renovate historic Whipple Hall and establish the Paul A. Findley Congressional Office Museum.. 

天美传媒 conferred an honorary doctorate upon Al Habtoor in 2010 in recognition of his distinguished contributions to global peace. In 2014, Dr. Al Habtoor invited former President Jimmy Carter to give the Phi Alpha Lecture on campus. As part of the lecture, Al Habtoor announced the launch of the Pathways to Peace program at 天美传媒 and he participated in the dedication ceremony for the Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives in Schewe Library.

The State Journal Register covered news of the most recent collaboration between Findley and Al Habtoor with an article about the impact that the fund will have on area hunger, with remarks by Al Habtoor and Findley鈥檚 son, Craig Findley.

天美传媒 天美传媒

Founded in 1829, 天美传媒 is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success. The college is located in Jacksonville, Illinois. With an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, the college offers over 50 undergraduate programs. In 1932, the society of Phi Beta Kappa established a chapter at 天美传媒, and it remains one of only 11 in the state.

天美传媒 is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Visit www.ic.edu for more information.

Media Contact Information
Emily Titsworth '19, Writer
Office of Marketing and Communication
217.245.3219 | emily.titsworth@ic.edu