Lupe Izzo has lived a life of purpose in the footsteps of her father.
The first lady of MSU basketball grew up embracing the values of community and altruism taught by her late father, Efrain Marinez, an activist and workers’ rights champion who set the standard for his 11 children.
Those lessons endure annually on campus with the Izzo Legacy 5K Run/Walk/Roll in partnership with Playmakers, which will celebrate its sixth-anniversary event on April 27, 2025.
“I grew up watching my father fight for other people’s rights,” said Izzo. She recalled that her father, who marched with civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, would open the doors of their bustling home to other families looking to relocate to a better life in Michigan. “I always grew up with the idea that you help your neighbor, you stand up for what you believe in, and you work hard for others that are less fortunate.”
Those sentiments inspired Izzo to a career in charitable business long before she ever met her future husband, Tom, in the early ’90s when he was an assistant with the Spartan basketball team. Tom took over coaching the storied program in 1995 and the family name soon became nearly synonymous with the university.
When the community was in pain, the Izzos felt a responsibility to help.
A foundation, the Izzo Legacy Family Fund, was created in 2019. At a time when campus leadership was in constant flux, the Izzo family focused their efforts on becoming a part of the solution. The 5K race was the foundation’s first event.
“It can feel like there’s always something. Another reason to keep it going, to keep celebrating our university and our community,” Izzo said. “Bad things happen, but we aren’t going to get swallowed up by what others say. We’re going to forge on and show the world that we are a great community and a great school.”
As of 2024, over $480,000 has been raised to support local charities and organizations identified by the Izzo Legacy Family Fund.