The Kelly Cares Foundation partners with the Band Chicago

April 6, 2016 – South Bend, IN – The Kelly Cares Foundation, established by Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui, is pleased to again be named a recipient to receive a portion of the proceeds from the band Chicago's 2016 ticket sales. The Foundation received over $100,000 in 2015 from the band. Kelly Cares will use the funds raised to help improve the lives of others, notably through organizations that focus on Health, Education, and Community.

This legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago, is in their 49th year of entertaining devout fans. They came in at #9, the highest charting American band in Billboard Magazine's recent Hot 200 All-Time Top Artists. Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades. The band will be inducted as part of the 2016 class into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 8.  This was their first nomination. The band's new documentary film, “Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago,” premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival in February, 2016, and won the Film Festival's Best of Fest Audience Choice Award.

“Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui have always been so gracious to myself and members of the band. As a former Notre Dame football player, under the Ara Parseghian regime, I have a vested interest in the philanthropic work that past coaches, and now Coach Kelly, have been involved with. I believe in the mission of the Kelly Cares Foundation and once I shared the vision with the rest of the band, they jumped at the opportunity to support such a great charity,” said Chicago's long time manager, Peter Schivarelli.

Chicago has pledged to donate proceeds from their 2016 tour to both the Kelly Cares Foundation and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. “It is humbling to know that a band with a reputation as big as Chicago's, is willing to take the time to learn about our foundation and rally behind our mission. We are excited to partner with the band and are thrilled about their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April,” said Lisa Klunder, Executive Director of the Kelly Cares Foundation.

Chicago's lifetime achievements include a Grammy Award, multiple American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Chicago street dedicated in their honor, and keys to and proclamations from an impressive list of US cities. Record sales top the 100,000,000 mark, and include 21 Top 10 singles, 5 consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles and 5 Gold singles. An incredible 25 of their 36 albums have been certified platinum, and the band has a total of 47 gold and platinum awards. The band is still touring with the original four members, Robert Lamm on keyboards, vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet and vocals, James Pankow on trombone and Walt Parazaider on woodwinds.

Since its founding in 2008, the Kelly Cares Foundation has donated nearly $3 million to support causes locally, nationally and globally. Some notable organizations that have received contributions from the Kelly Cares Foundation include the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Saint Joseph Health System, Breezy Point Disaster Relief Fund, Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA, and the Notre Dame Hesburgh Library.

For more information on the Kelly Cares Foundation, please contact Becky Beckman at 574-307-9139, becky.beckman@kellycaresfoundation.org or visit www.kellycaresfoundation.org.