Backes made the announcement Monday at his alma mater’s charity golf tournament.
The Blues’ captain played for Minnesota State from 2003-06, where he scored 46 goals and 73 assists (119 points) in 115 games. He also served as the team’s captain from 2005-06.
“I had a fantastic college hockey experience at Minnesota State and thanks to my coaches and support staff, I learned the value of hard work, teamwork and life skills,” Backes told MSUMavericks.com. “These skills helped me tremendously as I prepared for my career in the NHL. As a thank you to everyone at Minnesota State who has assisted me on my collegiate journey, we wanted to donate something back that would make a difference and help ensure the long-term success of the program.