College of DuPage performance hall renamed to honor Belushi brothers

GLEN ELLYN – The 800-seat performance hall at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage will be renamed the “Belushi Performance Hall” in honor of alumni John and Jim Belushi, according to a college news release.

President Robert Breuder announced the renaming March 8 after a benefit performance by Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy.

Born and raised in Wheaton, both John and Jim attended College of DuPage, the release states.

“I've never really had anything like this,” Jim said in the release. “For an improviser, I have nothing to say. It's sweet, thoughtful, generous and kind, and that's what I've always received at College of DuPage.”

Jim has donated or raised more than $330,000 over the years for student scholarships and art center programs, in addition to the nearly $380,000 yielded by the March 8 MAC's Grand Opening MAC Madness Celebration Benefit, according to the release.

“Through your generosity, you have changed lives of the students in this community,” Breuder said in the release.

Jim created The John Belushi Scholarship Fund with The Second City in 1983 to honor the memory of his brother, the release states. The fund provides recipients with full tuition and fees at College of DuPage, and is available to theater and music students. He also established the Belushi Artist-in-Residence Fund, which pays for artists' extended stays on campus.

The McAninch Arts Center recently underwent a 14-month, $35 million renovation funded as part of the $168 million referendum passed by District 502 voters in November 2010, according to the release. Work on the center was completed in December 2013.