Share Our Strength’s Taste Of The Game At Notre Dame Set For May 4th
Play to win the fight against children’s hunger.

April 16, 2002

WASHINGTON D.C. – On Saturday, May 4th, the University of Notre Dame will help Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s leading anti-hunger organizations, launch a new series of family sports events to fight childhood hunger. Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Game will mobilize top Irish coaches to share what they know and love about their sport with area families. Proceeds from the event will benefit local agencies working to fight children’s hunger, including The South Bend Center for the Homeless and El Campito.

“The coaches and I are proud that Notre Dame has the opportunity to be the first university in the country to share their strength by hosting an event for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Game,” said Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White. “We are proud to do our part to help fight children’s hunger here in South Bend.”

“These coaches are clearly who you’d want to have on your team in a crisis, whether that crisis comes in the last minute of a championship game, or in the form of 12 million American children at risk of hunger. And now the team they’ve chosen to be on is ours, and with their help we intend to win the fight against hunger,” said Bill Shore, Share Our Strength’s founder and executive director.

The afternoon event will include fundamental training in football, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball and swimming – many sessions will feature the opportunity for parents to play along with their children. There will also be sessions for adults on topics including strength and conditioning, injury prevention, sports photography, swimming as fitness, and how to be a good sports parent.

Participating coaches include Mike Brey, Men’s Basketball, Bobby Clark, Men’s Soccer, Debbie Brown, Volleyball, Bobby Bayliss, Men’s Tennis, Jay Louderback, Women’s Tennis, John Jasinski, Men’s Golf, Debby King, Women’s Golf, Bailey Weathers, Women’s Swimming, Tim Welsh, Men’s Swimming, and Notre Dame’s new Football Offensive and Defensive Coordinators, Bill Diedrick and Kent Baer.

“This event will be a fun way that families can learn about the sports they enjoy and serve the community at the same time.” said Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey, “Participating in Taste of the Game will allow me to touch the lives of kids I might not otherwise reach.”

Today, more than 12 million children – more than twice the population of Indiana — live below the poverty line and are susceptible to hunger and malnutrition, which can permanently hinder a child’s physical and mental development.

“As coaches, we understand the link between adequate nutrition and fitness. If kids aren’t getting a proper diet, they won’t perform well on the playing field or in life. Taste of the Game will give more local kids the opportunity to be fit and get a healthy start,” said soccer coach Bobby Clark.

About the Event
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Game will be held from 12:30 – 6:00 pm and will culminate with a celebratory picnic dinner. Check-in is at Gate 10 of the Joyce Center promptly at 12:30pm.

Tickets are $25 each (buy 4 get your 5th ticket free). Purchase tickets and register at www.tasteofthegame.org. Tickets are also available at the Notre Dame Ticket Office. Participants are encouraged to reserve their space in their desired sessions by registering online before May 1. If internet access isn’t available, participants can call toll-free 1-888-346-3476 to register.

About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s largest and most effective anti-hunger organizations, meets immediate demands for food while investing in longer-term solutions. Share Our Strength mobilizes more than 10,000 chefs, restaurateurs, authors, photographers, corporate partners and concerned individuals across the United States to give their time and talents to fight hunger. The organization works to end hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad by mobilizing industries and individuals and by creating community wealth to promote lasting change. To date, Share Our Strength has distributed over $64 million in grants to over 1,000 local, statewide, national and international organizations.