The Spirit of Notre Dame. Pass It On.
Finding the Power to Do Good
As a top-20 university that cleaves firmly to its religious charter, Notre Dame looks beyond the usual metrics of academic excellence to ask the question: How can our work serve the church and the world?
The answer lies in people like Pat Millea (’04), a youth minister and alumnus of Notre Dame’s Echo program, which prepares lay people to serve as catechetical ministers in the Catholic Church. “Notre Dame is a rare and special place,” he says, “that gave me the vision for my ministry, but also the knowledge and understanding I need to bring young people more fully into the body of Christ. That combination—academics and faith—gives us the power to do a lot of good.”
So, too, does the Notre Dame family, whose support for the Spirit of Notre Dame campaign has rendered the University better able than ever before to educate young people for lives of service and impact—and carved new ways by which Notre Dame can fulfill her unchanging mission.
The Spirit of Notre Dame. Pass It On.
Dignity Can Come in Size-Nines
That’s what Notre Dame sophomore Matt Conti has learned working with the poorest of the poor: new, well-fitting shoes can do a lot to restore a person’s sense of hope and self-worth.
Five years ago, Matt and his sister, Laura, founded From Our Hearts to Your Soles, a non-profit that provides free foot-health screenings and shoes to those in need. The project grew out of watching their father and his colleague give away shoes every year on the day before Thanksgiving.
“I thought what my dad did was great,” says Matt, “but it needed to be bigger than just a couple of guys passing out shoes.” Last year, Matt and his volunteers distributed 4,000 pairs, to people in 25 states.
Whether they are caring for the sick, mentoring a child—or providing for the most basic of human needs—the Notre Dame family is every day fighting to make our world a better place. Thank you.
The Spirit of Notre Dame. Pass It On.
Being A Champion Isn’t All About Winning the Race.
For former varsity rower Mary Kate McNamara (’08), it’s about winning the fight to improve healthcare for the uninsured and underserved.
A recent graduate, McNamara hopes to continue the work she began at Notre Dame, volunteering at the local free clinic and organizing clothing drives to provide the basic necessities her patients lacked.
She stills finds inspiration in a sign that hangs in the Women’s Boathouse:
“Practice Like a Champion Today.
Be a Champion in May.” “It is a constant reminder that being the best requires sacrifice, drive, work ethic,” she says. “It requires starting right now.”
Hers is the can-do attitude that makes a real difference—on the water, in the classroom, and on behalf of communities near and far. It’s the spirit of a champion. It’s the spirit of Notre Dame.
The Spirit of Notre Dame. Pass It On.
