Illinois Announces Community Impact Partnership with Busey Bank, Carle Health and Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation
August 31, 2026 | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball
News
Student-athlete partnership will support community health, engagement and economic vitality across Illinois.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Aug. 31, 2026) – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) announced today a partnership with Busey Bank, Carle Health and Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation that will harness the reach of Fighting Illini student-athletes to support community health, engagement and economic vitality across Illinois.
Through student-athlete engagement, the partnership will bring together four organizations with deep connections across Illinois and the reach and influence of Fighting Illini student-athletes. The collaboration will create new opportunities to engage communities, support shared initiatives, and connect people with experiences and resources that contribute to strong, healthy and vibrant communities.
"We are excited today to formalize our partnership with Busey Bank, Carle Health and the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation," said Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. "Together, we represent organizations with deep roots across Illinois and a shared commitment to the people and communities we serve. By combining that commitment with the growing reach of student-athlete engagement, we have an opportunity to create meaningful connections and extend our collective impact across Illinois."
"Improving health happens well beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics," said James C. Leonard, MD, president and CEO, Carle Health. "This partnership gives us another way to meet people where they are, using the reach and influence of Illinois student-athletes to promote health, encourage wellness and strengthen connections across all of the communities we serve. We're excited about what we can accomplish together."
"Fighting Illini student-athletes are an important part of the Champaign-Urbana story," said Jayne DeLuce, Experience Champaign-Urbana President, CEO, & Foundation Executive Director. "Through their voices and incredible reach, we can introduce new audiences to the people, places, businesses, and experiences that make our community brilliant, while helping student-athletes build a deeper connection and pride in the place they call home while competing here. This partnership is an innovative way to amplify our destination, support local businesses and grow a shared visitor economy that benefits our entire region."
"We believe strong communities are built through meaningful relationships, shared experiences and investments that create lasting impact," said Deanna Capel, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Busey Bank. "This partnership creates new opportunities to connect people with resources, experiences and organizations that enrich the communities they call home. By engaging Fighting Illini student-athletes in that effort, we can help strengthen community ties and support the long-term vitality of communities across Illinois."
About Carle Health
Carle Health is an integrated health system and a trusted partner in healthcare for patients, families and communities. With a focus on providing the right care, at the right place, at the right time, Carle Health makes high-quality care more accessible and improves health throughout the communities we serve. Headquartered in Urbana, Illinois, Carle Health serves communities across Illinois through eight hospitals, the multispecialty Carle Health Medical Group, research and education. Carle Health is also the primary clinical partner of Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world's first engineering-based medical school located at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and supports the next generation of healthcare professionals through Methodist College.
About Experience Champaign Urbana Foundation
The Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that builds philanthropic support for the work of Experience Champaign-Urbana and community-focused destination development. Through initiatives including the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail, Film Champaign-Urbana, talent attraction, and event recruitment, the Foundation amplifies our community's stories, creates economic opportunity, and strengthens our shared visitor economy.
About Busey Bank
Founded in Champaign-Urbana in 1868, Busey Bank has grown from a local community bank into a regional financial institution with $18.04 billion in assets, serving clients across 10 states. Through extraordinary in-person experiences and seamless digital offerings, Busey provides comprehensive banking, payments, wealth management and financial solutions tailored to the unique needs of individuals, families, businesses and communities.
While expanding its reach and capabilities, Busey remains grounded in the values that have defined the organization for more than 150 years: integrity, extraordinary excellence, strong relationships and community investment. Guided by a people-first approach, Busey is committed to helping clients achieve their goals while creating lasting value in the communities it proudly serves. Learn more at busey.com/Illini.
About Illinois Athletics
A charter member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the University of Illinois has a rich, storied history in intercollegiate athletics. The University's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is comprised of approximately 450 student-athletes competing in 21 NCAA Division I sports. Illinois has established itself among the nation's most successful athletics programs during a period of record growth for the department, surpassing $200 million in revenues in 2026. Over the last two years, Illinois stands as the only school in the country whose football team won a bowl game while its men's and women's basketball teams both won NCAA Tournament games. Illinois Football has won a school-record 19 games over the last two years with back-to-back wins in high-profile bowl games, while Men's Basketball advanced to the 2026 NCAA Final Four following an Elite Eight appearance in 2024.
