EIU Foundation

Foundation Awards

Outstanding Philanthropist

Since its inception in 1953, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of supporting the university. And, since 1993, the foundation has formally presented the Outstanding Philanthropist Award. In 1997, this award was renamed the Burnham and Nancy Neal Philanthropy Award in appreciation of the Neals' leadership, support, and dedication to Eastern and the foundation.

The award is given to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a sincere dedication and commitment to the financial, academic, and cultural well-being of EIU. The critical support and sustaining financial commitments provided by these distinguished philanthropists are essential to the future of the university and the students it serves.

2022 Recipients

Jerry and Martha Drake Posthumously

It is the EIU’ Foundation’s great honor to posthumously recognize Gerald A. (Jerry) and Martha A. Drake as the Foundation’s 2022 Outstanding Philanthropist Award recipients.

“Martha and Jerry were exceptional people and a magnificent team, steadfast in their devotion to EIU and the success of our students,” said Jonathan McKenzie, Foundation Executive Director. “This recognition acknowledges their impact and pays tribute to the role they and supporters like them have in connecting our students with the resources they need to complete their degree programs and make an impact in their own homes and communities.”

Jerry was born on January 2, 1926, while Martha was born on October 27, 1928—both in Mattoon. Following high school, Jerry and Martha’s EIU story began in the late 1940s, when the two met and fell in love, culminating in their marriage on March 4, 1950. Jerry earned degrees in physics and chemistry, while Martha earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

Martha and Jerry settled in Urbana in 1954, where Jerry combined his EIU education with the skills he retained as a U.S. Navy veteran to support WCIA’s engineering department. At WCIA, he primarily worked at the transmitter, prior to the station becoming fully televised later on. Meanwhile, Martha worked as an elementary school teacher for Urbana #116 Schools starting in 1955. She taught fourth grade at Thornburn School until 1971 and thereafter was a second-grade teacher at Thomas Paine School. She was highly regarded as an enthusiastic and engaged teacher by her extensive network of students, staff, and administrators throughout the Urbana School District from 1955 until her retirement in 1988.

Jerry was a lifelong member of the American Legion in Mattoon and an amateur radio operator and member of the Air Force Military Affiliated Radio Systems and Ham Radio Club in Champaign/Urbana. He also was a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. In his spare time, Jerry enjoyed joining in with local Barber Shop Quartets as a lead singer, photographer, and jazz musician. He had a very special connection to animals of all varieties—he and Martha have had many cats over the years who were unquestionably a big part of their family.

When it comes to philanthropy, Jerry and Martha appreciated and advocated for the personal, social, and educational opportunities they shared at Eastern Illinois University. So much so, in fact, that they endowed scholarships at EIU—the Gerald Alison Drake Scholarship for students pursuing a degree in Physics and the Martha Ann Drake Scholarship for students pursuing careers in Elementary Education.

Scholarships are increasingly essential to the success of EIU’s students. Since the EIU Foundation’s establishment in 1953 by H. Ogden Brainard, the strength of the EIU Foundation has reinforced, enhanced, and uplifted the opportunities Eastern Illinois University creates for its students and their families. Since its inception, the Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members to encourage and provide private support to the University, and to promote the ideals of volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni, friends, and employees of the University.

We’re proud to recognize Jerry and Martha Drake and to acknowledge the important work they’ve done to enhance the EIU experience for our talented and ambitious students. You, too, can join us in that mission. Please consider making an online gift today at eiu.edu/giving.php or explore the breadth of our important work at eiu.edu/advancement and eiu.edu/found.