University of Illinois announces wide-ranging $5.75 million gift from alumnus Anthony J. Petullo
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is proud to announce a $5.75 million gift from Gies College of Business alumnus Anthony (Tony) J. Petullo and his wife Bev. This generous contribution will bolster the College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) and the Gies College of Business, enriching the educational experience for students and faculty alike.
Of the total gift, $3.25 million is earmarked for the College of Fine and Applied Arts, a testament to the Petullos’ dedication to fostering creativity and innovation. This allocation includes $1.75 million to establish the Anthony J. Petullo School of Art and Design Scholarship and Fellowship Endowment Fund, providing vital financial support for undergraduate and graduate students through scholarships and fellowships. Additionally, $1.5 million will establish the Anthony J. Petullo Art Acquisition and Conservation Endowment Fund at Krannert Art Museum, facilitating the acquisition and preservation of American and European artworks held in the museum’s permanent collection.
Dean Kevin Hamilton expressed his gratitude for the Petullos’ continued support, highlighting Tony Petullo’s personal connection to the transformative power of art. “Tony experienced how creating and experiencing art changed him as a person, and he shares that story with everyone he can,” Dean Hamilton stated. “He’s among our very best advocates in every way, and we are so grateful to be building with him.”
The remaining $2.5 million of the gift will be directed to the Gies College of Business, establishing the Petullo Impact Fund. The fund will invest in faculty at Gies in the form of professorships, fellowships, chairs, PhD and post-doc support, and faculty research support.
Dean Jeffrey R. Brown praised Tony Petullo as a model philanthropist and dedicated supporter of higher education. “Tony cares so deeply for our students and for this university,” Dean Brown remarked. “In addition to his financial generosity, he loves engaging personally with our campus community. He wants his gifts to inspire others, and I’m happy to say he has inspired countless students and faculty through his many years of support.”
After graduating from the Gies Business with a bachelor’s in marketing in 1961, Tony Petullo spent three years as a US Navy officer and five years with Mobil Corporation. He founded Olsten Staffing Services, a successful temporary help firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and following the sale of Olsten Staffing Services in 2000, he became president of the Anthony Petullo Foundation. During the 1970s, he developed a keen interest in works by self-taught and outsider artists from Europe and the Americas. Since then, he has become a recognized authority on self-taught art and has written three books on the subject.
Reflecting on his time at the University of Illinois and his philanthropic endeavors, Petullo emphasized the profound impact of his education on his life’s journey. “For me, philanthropy is about the relationships I’m able to build and the lives I’m fortunate to be able to touch,” Petullo shared. “Business and the arts are very personal to me. They’ve been an important part of my life, and this is my way of giving back to society, to my community, and to Illinois.”
Petullo’s journey from a Gies College of Business graduate to a successful entrepreneur and passionate advocate for the arts exemplifies the transformative power of education and the enduring impact of philanthropy. With this landmark gift, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will continue to nurture creativity, innovation, and academic excellence for generations to come.