Diedre and Charles Banks met while attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Charles graduated with a degree in engineering, and Diedre earned her degree in accounting. Charles and Diedre married in 2007 in Wheaton, Illinois. Together, they are the proud parents of two boys.

​

In February 2017, Charles and Diedre Banks founded the National Day of Love® through The Banks Foundation, Inc. Charles is an alumnus of the top-ranked mechanical engineering program at UIUC and has built a successful career as a mechanical engineer at Exxon Mobil, where he has worked for over twenty years. Diedre graduated from UIUC's highly regarded accountancy program with both a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting. She has experience in public accounting, private industry, and government service. In 2018, she left the workforce to dedicate herself full-time to the foundation and ministry. Diedre has long been passionate about philanthropy, beginning her journey of giving back at a young age.

​

Since its founding in 2017, National Day of Love® has grown positively, supporting education through scholarships, sponsorships, and Bible teaching. We have assisted numerous scholars, provided tangible resources to schools, and helped bring love to people in need.

​

Charles and Diedre Banks firmly believe in the transformative power of education and the importance of giving back to communities with love.

​

We invite you to join us in supporting our mission to empower families to reach their full potential through love and education.