U of I gets $16.5 million in beer cash to study Brazil

CHAMPAIGN -- A Brazilian alcohol businessman who gave the University of Illinois $14 million in February has written the school another $2.5 million check in beer money.

Jorge Paulo Lemann gave the initial donation to set up the Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies.

University spokeswoman Robin Kaler says the additional $2.5 million will fund endowed chairs at the institute. The school is celebrating Brazilian culture and history this week.

Lemann co-owns a Brazilian brewery that's merged with Anheuser-Busch.

Lemann has said he gave the university the money because it has a strong track record of educating Brazilians.

Lemann's donation is the largest ever made to the university by someone who isn't an Illinois graduate.