‘Catholics Vs. Corona’ T-shirt Gives Notre Dame Students Charitable Way to Fight COVID-19

In the absence of most athletic activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have replaced watching impressive feats with reporting on many sports-related efforts to combat the affliction. The latest comes courtesy of the legendary football team at the University of Notre Dame, as four students created a ‘Catholics Vs. Corona’ T-shirt that references a storied 1988 win by the Fighting Irish while generating funds for the United Way.

Huge thanks to @Anthony_Totri and @ABC57News for this amazing story!

We've currently sold over 200 shirts and raised nearly $1000 for charity. Keep sharing! https://t.co/fxH90phSrG

— Catholics vs. Corona (@CatholicsCorona) April 30, 2020

Taking to Twitter last night, the freshmen, who drew inspiration for their idea from the school’s female lacrosse players, noted that their ringspun cotton efforts have thus far raised nearly $1,000 for the charity. Giving a nod to the ‘Catholics Vs. Convicts’ top that built the hype surrounding a gridiron clash between Notre Dame and the University of Miami Hurricanes, the T-shirt, while retaining the alliteration that marked its predecessor, is going a step further by having altruism at its core. For $19.95, wearers can do their part to help the main COVID-19 relief fund that the United Way helms and its Indiana-based St. Joseph County chapter.

Apparel has come to play a big role in helping people to maintain hope as COVID-19 ravages the economy, and this sentiment by the Notre Dame quartet shows that no matter how long the pandemic persists, we will have a steady stream of people from all walks of life ready to assist organizations’ missions. That the shirt gives us a chance to recall the joy of sports resounds as an added benefit, even though the Hurricanes might not want to relive their defeat from 32 years ago.

It stands to figure that members of the Notre Dame community will continue to bless this creation with their approval and that non-Indiana-based fans of the football team will help the learners to hit pay dirt as young adults bent on being difference makers.