National Day of Love Community Scholarship Fund

Charles and Diedre Banks are proud alumni of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where their journey together began. They met through mutual friends during their time on campus and were married in 2007.

Charles earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Grainger College of Engineering in 2004 and is an alumnus of the Morrill Engineering Program (MEP). Diedre graduated from the Gies College of Business with a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy in 2004, followed by a Master’s in Taxation in 2005.

Charles and Diedre Banks, Illinois Alumni, Class of 2004

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2004, Charles began his career with ExxonMobil, where he has held multiple leadership roles and continues to serve as a strong advocate in management. Diedre launched her professional journey in 2005, building a career in accounting. Her experience spans public accounting, the federal government, and private industry.

Philanthropy has always been a shared passion for Diedre and Charles. In 2007, they founded The Banks Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting educational organizations and other community-based initiatives. The foundation’s mission is to empower individuals to reach their full potential through love and education. In 2018, Diedre made the decision to leave her accounting career and commit full-time to advancing the foundation’s impact.

Charles and Diedre Banks believe in the power of giving back to their communities. Having both received scholarships during their time in school, they are passionate about supporting students with similar aspirations. They believe that every student with the drive and qualifications to pursue higher education should have the opportunity to do so.

To help make that vision a reality, they established the National Day of Love Community Scholarship Fund—an endowment created to provide financial support to students pursuing college degrees. Since its launch in Spring 2020, the fund has awarded scholarships to eight students, with two more recipients being recognized this year.

The National Day of Love is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of March, a day dedicated to uplifting others through acts of generosity and care.

If you would like to contribute to the endowment and help empower future scholars, you can do so here.