DuPage Foundation Announces Jim Durham Memorial Fund Established
The Jim Durham Memorial Scholarship Fund for Communication Arts has been created to benefit juniors and seniors attending Benedictine University in Lisle, who are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in communications, with preference given to those seeking a career in sports broadcasting. Recipients of the scholarship must be individuals who have demonstrated great personal integrity in their own lives and who are driven by a passion for excellence. The scholarship will be made known by the University to eligible students, who may apply no earlier than their sophomore year for distribution during their junior or senior year.
"Sports broadcasting will be the Fund's primary focus, as it was for Jim, but students pursuing careers in other communication arts may also benefit, as Jim would have been just as enthusiastic about other art forms designed to communicate a message that would make a difference for good in the world, as well as the 'great good' of describing an exciting sports story," said Jim's wife, Helen Durham.
"Jim was, by nature, an encourager of others. A young friend recently wrote, 'Jim helped people around him do what God was calling them to do. That was truly one of Jim's greatest legacies. And it would be wonderful to honor Jim's faith by giving assistance to people who want to make a difference in the world. I only met Jim a few times, but he made me feel special. He made me feel like I could accomplish anything, and he made me feel like my work was important,'" related Helen.
"Jim was at an A-level from the get-go," wrote Brian McIntyre, former senior communications advisor to the NBA commissioner. "And he wasn't just one of the best announcers of all time; he was in the human being Hall of Fame. He treated people like gold and just lived his life the right way."
Jim passed away from natural causes on November 4, 2012, at the age of 65. He began his professional career in sports broadcasting in 1973, and worked until the week before his untimely passing in a career that spanned nearly 40 years. Jim attended Illinois State University, where he worked at the campus radio station. He worked at WJBC in Bloomington, Illinois, prior to his 18-year career as the voice of the Chicago Bulls, with his broadcast partner Johnny "Red" Kerr. For 18 seasons, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for The NBA on ESPN Radio with his broadcast partner, Dr. Jack Ramsay. Jim also worked for the Chicago White Sox, the Dallas Mavericks, Turner Sports, ABC, CBS, NBC, and the Houston Astros.
Jim is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter Traci Gilchrist and son-in-law Jason Gilchrist, son Patrick Durham and daughter-in-law Laurie Durham, son Richard Durham and daughter-in-law Kara Durham; six grandchildren, Tyler Giraud, Spencer Giraud, Katlyn Gilchrist, Jaclyn Gilchrist, Nicholas Durham and Mia Durham; sister Sandie Durham Short; and sister-in-law Connie Durham.
For more information about the Jim Durham Memorial Scholarship Fund for Communication Arts or to make a donation, please visit jimdurhammemorialfund.org or call (630) 665-5556.
About the DuPage Foundation
The DuPage Foundation seeks to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by
fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships. Based on the American virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy, the Foundation fosters a legacy of support for the people of DuPage County by making grants to not-for-profit organizations working
in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services. Since its
inception, the Foundation has built its endowment to more than $61 million and
awarded more than $21 million in grants to not-for-profit agencies serving the residents of
DuPage County and beyond.
Established in 1986, the DuPage Foundation is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) organization to
which contributions are tax deductible. It was created to benefit the people of DuPage County and receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment from individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations wishing to make lasting contributions to the people of DuPage. The
earnings on these funds are then used, in accordance with donor wishes, for the Foundation's grantmaking and community leadership activities.
For more information about the Foundation, or to arrange future media opportunities, please contact Joelyn Kott, marketing & communications officer, at (630) 665-5556, extension 19, or joelyn@dupagefoundation.org.