Estate Gift Boosts Scholarship Program
Mildred “Millie” Luther, a lifelong resident of Champaign County and a dedicated supporter of education and agriculture, has impacted the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation through a generous estate gift. The gift, received in early April, commemorates Luther’s longtime and significant impact on the CCFB Foundation
Luther, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 91, directed the estate gift to support local students pursuing degrees, and eventual careers, in agriculture.
The CCFB Foundation is committed to cultivating agricultural education and has awarded over $1.3 million in tuition assistance to Champaign County students since 1985. Luther’s donation significantly bolsters this mission and enables the foundation to expand its scholarship programs and support more students in their educational endeavors.
Mildred Luther grew up on her family’s farm in southwest Champaign. Millie, along with her sister Kathryn Luther Henderson, and brother-in-law Bill Henderson, were long-time members of the CCFB Foundation Board of Directors. The trio took pride in reading and evaluating every scholarship application. “They loved getting to know our scholarship recipients” said Kirk Builta, Executive Director of the CCFB Foundation.
Builta adds “the lives Millie touched through our scholarship program are many. We’re incredibly proud to continue Millie’s legacy, forever, through this endowment”.
In recognition of Millie’s contribution, the largest gift the organization has received to date, the CCFB Foundation has established the Mildred Luther Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded annually to students demonstrating a commitment to agriculture and high academic achievement. This scholarship not only honors Luther’s memory but also ensures that her passion for education will be remembered for generations to come. Her deep roots in the community and her nearly five-decade career at the University of Illinois reflect her dedication to education and service.
For more information about the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation and its scholarship programs, visit www.ccfbfoundation.com.
