CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With the Thanksgiving holiday season upon us, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will host the second Good Works Day at Memorial Stadium when the Fighting Illini football team hosts Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. The day will provide Illinois fans the chance to give back to the community while also recognizing groups and individuals who are doing "Good Works" to help those in need.
Prior to the game, the Salvation Army will be ringing bells in their annual Red Kettle Campaign on both the East and West sides of Memorial Stadium. For the past 128 years, the Salvation Army has been ringing bells to provide much needed support to residents of Champaign County where it serves more than 54,000 concentrating on homelessness, food insecurity, and more.
Earlier this season, members of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club were treated to an evening with the Fighting Illini football team, as 50 kids visited Memorial Stadium for a special tour and dinner with the team. Each child left that evening with a Thanksgiving turkey, compliments of the Champaign-Urbana Meijer grocery stores. The kids also will be hosted at a pregame tailgate and attend Saturday's game.
Tonight, athletes from the Tom Jones Challenger League will be the special guests at the weekly Lovie Smith Radio Show at Papa Del's Pizza Factory. The radio show will begin at 7 p.m., and for this week will take place in the second level of Papa Del's to accommodate the larger crowd.
During the game, the Memorial Stadium big screen will feature individuals and organizations that are making a difference in the University of Illinois community.
Illinois football season ticket holders were offered the opportunity to add to their purchase during renewals to help send youth groups to Illini games. This campaign will provide tickets to organizations who assist and help with youth in underserved communities. Organizations can reach out the Illinois marketing department at arner@illinois.edu to inquire about receiving tickets.
TICKETS: Tickets are available for Saturday's game for as low as $20 and can be purchased on FightingIllini.com. For more information, contact the Illinois Ticket Office at 217-300-4309.
GRANGE GROVE: Grange Grove will open for tailgating at 7 a.m. and entertainment will begin at 8 a.m. with inflatables, Fighting Illini Fan Headquarters, Gameday Spirit, live music, food trucks and the beer tent. Illini Walk is slated for 8:50 a.m. followed by the Marching Illini performance.
