Celebration of Philanthropy
The University of Illinois Springfield and the University of Illinois
Foundation host an annual Celebration of Philanthropy event to
celebrate individuals who make a difference through philanthropic
support. Each year the William E. Winter Award for Outstanding Advocate
Leadership is given to recognize individuals outside the university
structure who play active roles in securing private support.
William E. Winter Award for Outstanding Advocate Leadership
This award recognizes individuals outside of the University structure
who play active roles in securing private support for the University of
Illinois. William E. Winter, who passed away in 2016, became a director
of the University of Illinois Foundation in 1984. His service to the
Foundation included heading up the volunteer component of the
University’s first major campaign in the early 1980s.
Winter
earned an A.B. degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
in 1942. In April 1946, he went to work for the St. Louis,
Missouri-based 7Up® Company and rose to become chief executive and
chairman. His career in the soft drink industry spanned 55 years.
