I-LEAP Students Thank Benefactor
Mannie Jackson (center) with I-LEAP Scholars and Dean Tanya Gallagher.
From a humble birth in a railway box car, Mannie L. Jackson has journeyed to the highest pinnacle of success, a
journey that took him through the University of Illinois. In 2008, he made a gift of $2 million to the College of
Applied Health Sciences to create the Mannie L. Jackson Illinois Academic Enrichment and Leadership Program, or
I-LEAP. The program provides first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups with
academic, personal, and professional support. In October, I-LEAP scholars gathered to thank Mr. Jackson for his
generosity.
Mannie Jackson was the first African American captain of the Illini basketball team, and the first African
American All-American. He went on to achieve outstanding success at Honeywell, Inc., retiring as Corporate Officer
and Senior Vice President. A former player for the Harlem Globetrotters, he became the first African American to
own a major international sports and entertainment organization when he bought the Globetrotters in 1993. As
chairman and CEO, he revived the near-bankrupt organization and restored its status as one of the most admired and
publicized teams in the world, while increasing revenue five-fold and rebuilding the fan base to near record
levels. Today, he continues as part owner of the team and chairman of its board of directors.
Mr. Jackson shared words of wisdom from his lifetime of achievement with the I-LEAP scholars, who, in turn,
shared moving personal tributes on the importance of the I-LEAP program in their lives. I-LEAP scholar and AHS
Student Council President Diana Arellano thanked Mr. Jackson for exemplifying Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "You must be
the change you want to see in the world."
"Helping students that may not have had the same opportunities as others may have had, you have extended an
invisible helping hand to the students in I-LEAP," Arellano said. "Thank you for being that change because you've
inspired many of us to not only want to be the change but to give back as well."
That the program is successful is evidenced by a retention rate better than 98 percent. I-LEAP scholars also
earn higher grade point averages and are less likely to be put on academic probation than their peers. In 2009,
the program received the Outstanding Advising Program Award from the National Academic Advising Association.
I-LEAP Program Director Sheri Shaw received the 2010 Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award given by the University
of Illinois Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.