NOTRE DAME, Ind.–When two traditional college football rivals play their annual game this weekend, two credit unions will be back with a traditional competition of their own.
Notre Dame Federal Credit Union will compete against USC Credit Union (to raise money for local charities in the seventh annual $10,000 Charity Challenge.
“Notre Dame FCU and USCCU will take the age-old rivalry off the gridiron in a battle to see which credit union can generate more new checking accounts between Sept. 23, 2019 and Oct. 12, 2019,” Notre Dame FCU said in a statement.
The game is scheduled for Oct. 12 at Notre Dame.
Each credit union has wagered $5,000 on the contest. The credit union that opens the most checking accounts will not only get to select the winning charity to receive $10,000 but also have bragging rights for the next year.
The Beneficiaries
Defending 2019 challenge winner, Notre Dame FCU, said it has once again chosen the Kelly Cares Foundation. Created by Notre Dame’s Head Football Coach Brian Kelly and his wife, Paqui (a two-time breast cancer survivor), the foundation focuses on a variety of community initiatives, including breast cancer awareness and research.
If USCCU wins the challenge, it will donate the winnings to USC Good Neighbors. Since 1994, Good Neighbors has given grants to support partnerships between the university and the community. “They work hard to foster collaboration between USC faculty, staff, and local nonprofits to give back to organizations that are making a difference in the community,” the credit union said.
A Worthy Cause
“This friendly competition not only raises money for a worthy cause, but it also generates a lot of excitement for our partners (employees) and members,” said Notre Dame FCU President/CEO Tom Gryp.
As part of the competition, the two credit unions have also created a traveling trophy that celebrates the age-old rivalry. Named the “Tradition Never Graduates” trophy, it resides with the credit union of the school that won the prior year’s gridiron contest. For the past year, the trophy has been proudly displayed in the Notre Dame FCU Moreau Branch, celebrating the 24-17 victory of the Fighting Irish over Trojans in last year’s game.