Tom Izzo Named 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon for Unwavering Humanitarian Impact and Transformative Local Generosity
East Lansing, MI — June 26, 2025
Michigan State University’s Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo has been named the 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon, a national honor recognizing extraordinary humanitarian leadership and community impact. Presented by the College Coaches for Change (C3) Foundation, the award celebrates Izzo’s unwavering commitment to service, his transformative giving, and a legacy that extends far beyond the hardwood.
For more than two decades, Izzo has been the face of Michigan State basketball, leading the Spartans to national championships, Final Four runs, and perennial Big Ten contention. But in 2025, it is his off-court legacy that’s drawing headlines—and heartfelt applause.
Over the past 12 months alone, Izzo has donated over $4 million to community-focused projects in Michigan. His most notable gift was a $2.1 million investment into Michigan State’s football program, a gesture aimed at leveling the playing field across campus athletics. But his giving didn’t stop there.
Izzo and his wife Lupe recently contributed an additional $1.5 million to the construction of a youth mental health and sports performance center, aimed at supporting young athletes with both psychological and physical care. The “Izzo Family Resilience Center,” set to open in spring 2026, will offer free counseling, sports mentorship, and leadership development to underserved youth in the Lansing area.
“This award isn’t just about generosity,” said C3 Foundation Executive Director Dr. Melanie Hartwell. “It’s about impact. Tom Izzo has built more than teams—he’s built hope. He’s modeled how influence, when used with humility and compassion, becomes a force for real, measurable change.”
In addition, Izzo’s foundation helped fund mobile clinics for at-risk neighborhoods, provided scholarships for first-generation college students, and recently partnered with Spartan Health to launch a community fitness initiative targeting childhood obesity through school-based sports programs.
When asked about the recognition, Izzo deflected the spotlight.
“I’ve always said coaching is more than basketball,” he told reporters after a summer youth camp. “It’s about lifting people. If you have a platform and you don’t use it to serve others, you’re wasting it.”
Former Spartan players, now NBA and business professionals, have publicly praised Izzo’s example. Draymond Green, a longtime supporter of Izzo’s community work, called him “the most authentic leader in sports.”
“Coach Izzo taught us how to compete, sure,” Green said. “But more importantly, he taught us how to care. That’s the Izzo way.”
As part of the honor, a new annual $100,000 grant—dubbed the Izzo Impact Fellowship—will be established in his name to support student-athletes leading their own philanthropic efforts across college campuses.
With the 2025–26 basketball season approaching, Izzo remains laser-focused on winning. But ask anyone in East Lansing, and they’ll tell you: the real victories are already being tallied—not in wins or banners, but in the lives he’s changed.
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