College football season means it's time once again for the $10,000 Charity Challenge.
As the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the University of Southern California Trojans prepare to settle their storied rivalry on the field on Oct. 17, so too will two credit unions.
For the third year in a row, USC Credit Union and Notre Dame Federal Credit Union will battle to see which credit union can generate the most credit card applications between Sept. 14, 2015 and October 16, 2015.
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Each credit union anted up $5,000, with the winner taking it all, donating $10,000 to the charity of their choice. If the $466 million credit union, based in Notre Dame, Ind., wins, its charity, Kelly Cares Foundation, a breast cancer awareness organization co-founded by University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui, a breast cancer survivor will benefit. The $410 million USC CU, based in Los Angeles, selected USC Good Neighbors as its charity. Good Neighbors provides financial support to university-community partnerships involving collaboration between USC faculty and staff and local nonprofit organizations that have a visible, positive impact on neighborhoods surrounding the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.
Each credit union has taken the challenge to their members via social media and daily updates posted on dedicated scoreboard microsites. For the past two years, USC CU edged ahead of Notre Dame FCU. Going for a three-peat, the USC CU goal is to generate at least 450 new loan applications aiming for 15 new applications a day.
"We have a great offer on our rewards card that has everyone excited-0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months with only 2% fee," Tere Denison, chief marketing officer at USC CU said.
The two credit unions also created a traveling trophy that celebrates the 85-year football rivalry. Named the "Tradition Never Graduates" trophy, it's displayed at the credit union of the school that won the latest gridiron contest. An added bonus last year, was that the trophy also found a new home in Los Angeles as the Trojans beat the Fighting Irish on the football field as well, 49-14.
"Notre Dame FCU is proud to help a good cause," Tom Gryp, president/CEO, said. "This is a friendly competition between two credit unions that are committed to supporting their communities. 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."
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