The Shirt Charity Fund

 

 

When football season rolls around, The Shirt is visible all over Notre Dame, South Bend, the United States, and even internationally. The Shirt is seen everywhere, but what makes it so special? Obviously profits are made, but most people are often unaware of exactly where all the money goes.

The Shirt Charity Fund

Money raised by The Shirt Project is used to subsidize student organizations and create memorial awards in the names of Notre Dame students. Moreover, The Shirt Project preserves the charitable nature of the “T-Shirt for the Cause” campaign.Specifically, half of the funding provided by The Shirt Project goes to The Shirt Charity Fund, which helps Notre Dame students who suffer from extraordinary medical conditions that requires payment beyond their means. Medical bills add up quickly, and the money for unplanned accidents or illness is not always available. Thus, by paying medical bills on behalf of students, The Shirt Charity Fund allows Notre Dame students to continue their education and recuperation without the fear of not being able to return the next semester due to financial reasons.  For more information about The Shirt Charity Fund, visit the Financial Management Board's website here.

Rector Fund

Separate from the exceptional academics available at the university, extracurricular activities are also important in the lives of Notre Dame students. The Shirt Project provides a major source of income to students on campus by allocating another portion of the profits to The Rector Fund. With this financial support, residence hall rectors can request money to students who could not otherwise afford football tickets, pay for their textbooks, afford or attend campus-life activities. Although The Shirt Project aims to sell as many shirts as possible each year, its ultimate goal is to benefit the students who make Notre Dame an influential and flourishing university. For more information on the Rector Fund, visit the Office of Student Affairs' website here.

"The Twelfth Man"

Also important to The Shirt Project is to provide a unified front in the football stadium. A sea of same-colored shirts gives the opposing team a “twelfth man” to fear. Unity in cheering for the football team carries beyond the stadium: a Notre Dame football game has the ability transform clashing helmets into a memorable weekend experience. Walking the campus the day before the game or tailgating hours before kickoff and seeing The Shirt worn by numerous fans, students, and alumni creates an indescribable atmosphere unique to Notre Dame. Within the student section, nearly everyone wears The Shirt to each home football game, provided. The power in the students all wearing the same shirt creates a sense of concordance and also ensures that no one is left out; every student at Notre Dame is unified under one cause while cheering for a Notre Dame victory.