Bettis and Faine Make $1.5 Million Scholarship Gifts to Notre Dame

Courtesy of of Notre Dame

Former Notre Dame running back and NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis has committed $1.5 million to endow a football grant-in-aid (scholarship) at the University, becoming the latest former Fighting Irish student-athlete to step forward to pay back their scholarship. The gift from Jerome and his wife, Trameka, will establish a fund for a running back scholarship, which will exist in perpetuity to protect and enhance the Notre Dame student-athlete experience for generations to come.

"Trameka and my philanthropic philosophy is to provide back to those who helped us get to where we are," Bettis said. "The key is to find a way, once you have had success, to pay it forward. You can do this by making sure someone has an opportunity like I did while at Notre Dame."

The Bettis family's support comes on the heels of a similar commitment from former All-American and NFL center Jeff Faine and his wife Brittnie. In June, Faine established a $1.5 million endowed scholarship for student-athletes at the center position.

The funds established by Bettis and Faine not only provide a financial foundation for scholarships, they impact the University at large. By offsetting current scholarship commitments, these gifts allow Notre Dame Athletics to strengthen its unique impact on other sports, the academy, and need based financial aid for all students.

"Notre Dame transcends the traditional description of higher education," Faine stated. "The reason for this is because it is not a decision of where you would like to attend college, but a decision of how you will live the rest of your life and the positive impact you will leave on Earth. It just makes sense to Brittnie and I that if a young person should have a desire and is qualified to attend Notre Dame, monetary requirements should not eliminate Notre Dame from their decision-making process."

Both Faine and Bettis have been actively engaged with not only the University, but also personal Foundation efforts as well. Bettis founded The Bus Stops Here Foundation in 1997 to provide opportunities for inner-city youth to succeed and become productive individuals. In 2009, Faine launched the The Faine House which provides young adults exiting foster care support and guidance with education, housing, employment, health and personal finance.

While Bettis and Faine stand out for their football careers, student-athletes across the board are having a transformational impact at Notre Dame. In the University's current Boldly campaign, former student-athletes have collectively contributed over $200 million in support. This includes four endowed coaching positions, seven endowed grant-in-aid gifts of $1 million or more and multiple seven-figure commitments to facilities. Over the past five years, the University has seen a 6.2% increase in giving amongst former student-athletes.