Notre Dame, IN – For the third year in a row, two federal credit unions will compete to raise money for local charities as part of the $10,000 Charity Challenge.

Inspired by the upcoming October 17 college football game between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California, Notre Dame Federal Credit Union (Notre Dame FCU) and USC Credit Union (USCCU) will battle to see which credit union can generate the most credit card applications between September 14, 2015 and October 16, 2015. 

Each credit union has wagered $5,000 on the contest, with the winner taking all and donating $10,000 to the charity of their choice.

Notre Dame FCU’s charity of choice is the Kelly Cares Foundation, a breast cancer awareness organization co-founded by University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly and his wife, Paqui, who is a breast cancer survivor.

If USCCU wins the challenge, they will donate the winnings to USC Good Neighbors, which provides financial support to university-community partnerships between USC faculty and staff and local nonprofit organizations that have a visible, positive impact on the neighborhoods surrounding the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.

Notre Dame FCU President/CEO Tom Gryp said that no matter who wins, the outcome will benefit a worthy organization. “This is a friendly competition between two credit unions that are committed to supporting their communities.”

The 1979 Notre Dame graduate also added, “Notre Dame FCU is proud to help a good cause.  Just like the Notre Dame-USC football rivalry, our Notre Dame FCU team is ready to step up with a positive attitude and focus on winning!” Gryp encourages all Notre Dame fans to support a worthy cause by applying for a Notre Dame FCU credit card at NotreDameFCU.com/BeatUSC.

Traveling Trophy/Bragging Rights Linked to Contest
As part of the competition, the two credit unions have also created a traveling trophy that celebrates the 85-year football 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 USCCU corporate office, celebrating the 49-24 victory of the Trojans over the Fighting Irish in last year’s game.

About Notre Dame FCU
Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Notre Dame, Indiana, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. With assets in excess of $470 million, Notre Dame FCU’s dedicated partners (employees), coupled with a wide array of financial services, provide members a personalized experience at the credit union’s nine convenient branch locations, its virtual branch (Shamrock Center), and through its robust online banking platform and mobile apps. From its humble beginnings in May of 1941, operating out of the night watchman’s office in the Main Building on the campus at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame FCU has grown into a national financial institution, serving over 54,000 members in all 50 states and throughout the world.

About Kelly Cares Foundation
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. A strong emphasis has been made on three main pillars: Health, Education, and Community. To accomplish its mission, Kelly Cares emphasizes: (1) Health, through promoting breast cancer awareness, supporting those in need, funding valuable research, and encouraging prevention; (2) Education, by funding educational research and supporting institutional advancement at all levels and capacities; and (3) Community, strong communities are a direct result of active participation on the part of their citizens. The Foundation supports projects and initiatives that encourage the engagement of individuals in their local communities. Find out more at kellycaresfoundation.org.