Milt Lee, executive director and CEO, Food Bank of Northern Indiana.

Kelly Cares Foundation, Irish Football Donate $10,000 To Food Bank Of Northern Indiana

Dec. 15, 2014

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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Kelly Cares Foundation, a charity founded by University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui, donated $10,000 to the Northern Indiana Food Bank on Monday. The gift – presented on behalf of the entire Fighting Irish football staff for its continued support of Football 101 – will benefit the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.

“I can’t think of better teammates than the University of Notre Dame football coaching staff and the Kelly Cares Foundation when it comes to fighting childhood hunger,” said Milt Lee, executive director and CEO, Food Bank of Northern Indiana. “One in four children in northern Indiana live in a food-insecure household. Many children rely on school cafeterias for their only meal of the day. Our Food 4 Kids Backpack Program discretely provides food to children to ensure they have something to eat on weekends and during holidays during the school year.”

“We’re so thankful that so many different people help with the mission of our foundation,” said Paqui Kelly. “The football coaching staff has been instrumental to our success, especially with its enthusiastic support of Football 101. We can’t think of a better way to show our appreciation and also support our community’s young people. We truly love the opportunity to give back and there’s no better time than during the holiday season.”

The Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids Fun Packs Program is providing weekend food bags to nearly 2,000 students in local schools, including Elkhart, LaPorte, Starke and St. Joseph Counties. The program has also extended to 11 schools in Michigan City.

For more information on the Northern Indiana Food Bank, please call (574) 232.9986 or visit feedindiana.org.

The Kelly Cares Foundation was established by the Brian and Paqui Kelly family to support organizations, initiatives and programs that closely align with the goals and values of the Kelly family in three main pillars: Health, Education, and Community. To learn more about Kelly Cares Foundation, visit kellycaresfoundation.org.

Football 101, which sold out for the fifth consecutive year this past June, raised over $100,000 to benefit breast cancer prevention, awareness and early detection initiatives. The event gives women at least 21 years old a tutorial session on football basics, an opportunity to meet the Notre Dame football coaching staff and its players, learn Fighting Irish football trivia and enjoy an upscale taste of area restaurants.

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