University of Iowa receives foundation grant for business student wellness initiative

A multimillion-dollar donation to the University of Iowa’s business college, alongside a matching gift challenge to generate even more funds, will help support a student mental health and success initiative that sees participation from thousands.

The UI Tippie College of Business announced in a news release it has received $3.5 million from the DeWolf Family Foundation of Cedar Rapids for Tippie Thrive, a “peer-led” mental health program embedded in courses and with outside programming.

According to the release, the donation, and a 2-to-1 matching gift challenge with a commitment from the foundation that reaches $500,000, will establish an endowment for the initiative’s future and fund a “dedicated home and student-facing storefront” for Tippie Thrive.

“Tippie Thrive reflects our belief that student success requires more than academic achievement alone,” said business college dean Amy Kristof-Brown in the release. “Business leaders consistently tell us they need graduates who can collaborate effectively, navigate uncertainty, and lead with empathy and self-awareness. Tippie Thrive helps students develop those capabilities while supporting their personal well-being. We are deeply grateful to Chris and Suzy DeWolf for their extraordinary investment in our students and their future.”

Student leaders develop and deliver “evidence-based programming that promotes well-being across the college,” the release stated, focused on helping students strengthen their interpersonal, self-awareness and self-care skills in order to succeed in college, their careers and in their personal lives.

Students learn about healthy habits and coping strategies for stress and other challenges and, according to the release, more than 4,700 students participated in one of 80 programs offered through the initiative in the 2025-2026 academic year.

The initiative will be renamed after Chris and Suzy DeWolf for their gift, the release stated. Chris DeWolf is a UI business college alum and the couple owns Cedar Rapids-based retail distributor Lil’ Drug Store.

“Tippie Thrive is helping students develop competencies that will serve them long after they leave campus,” Chris DeWolf said in the release. “Resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to navigate challenges are just as important as technical knowledge in today’s workplace, and we hope this challenge inspires others to join us in supporting this important work.”