Miller Group Charitable Trust of La Salle announced Tuesday night a $1 million pledge to the Illinois Valley Community College Foundation to fund enhancements of the soon-to-be-constructed Community Technology Center at Illinois Valley Community College.

Following the announcement of the largest gift in IVCC’s 87-year history, college trustees voted at their regular meeting to name the nearly 80,000-square-foot facility the “Peter Miller Community Technology Center.”

The building will be named in honor of both Peter Miller, Jr., and recent former Miller Group Media President Peter “Pete” Miller of Peru who died in February.

“This is a testament to a man who embraced technology and its ability to improve the lives of others,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran. “It is also a highly visible reminder of Pete’s transformative philanthropy in the Illinois Valley.”

Corcoran noted that Pete’s father, Peter Miller Jr., is a renowned figure in IVCC history. In 1966, as publisher of the News Tribune and owner of LaSalle County Broadcasting Corp., Peter Miller, Jr., lent crucial backing to the campaign that gained overwhelming voter support for construction of the college at its current location.

“The Miller Group Charitable Trust’s generous gift in support of the Peter Miller Community Technology Center will have a profound effect upon hundreds of thousands of students and community members over the next 30 years,” said Corcoran who then turned to Miller Group representatives Catherine Miller and Joyce McCullough and added, “Cathy and Joyce, on behalf of all of them, thank you.”

McCullough, President of Miller Group Media, made the announcement with Cathy Miller at her side.

“Peter and Pete were avid supporters of this college and avid ‘new tech’ people. We know they would not only approve of this project, they would be 100 percent behind it,” she said.

“We can think of no better way to honor these two great men who meant so much to us than to partner with IVCC in the building of the Peter Miller Community Technology Center by pledging $1 million for building enhancement,” McCullough said.

The $1 million pledge will be paid in three installments ending in November 2013 and coinciding with the expected opening of the facility.

The Peter Miller CTC will prepare students for technical, manufacturing and alternative energy jobs through nine career programs, provide a “one-stop” for vital student services such as counseling, financial aid and admissions, and be home to Continuing Education, Adult Education and Project Success, among others.

The Miller gift was the climax of a 30-minute ceremony launching a $2.1 million capital campaign for support of programs and services to be provided within the CTC. The campaign is also seeking support for community-strengthening programs such as the proposed Center for Innovation and Opportunity.

Miller Group Charitable Trust has also given generously to the Illinois Valley YMCA, Illinois Valley Animal Rescue, St. Margaret’s Health, Starved Rock Special Olympics and Illinois Valley Community Hospital, to name just a few.

Miller Group Media includes the NewsTribune, radio stations AM1220WLPO, 99.3 WAJK, 96.5theWOLF, Ottawa Delivered and AgriNews publications.

“This extraordinary gift from the Miller family will long be remembered in our college’s history,” said Corcoran.