Chambana Sun

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema, his family, and the Illinois football team have launched the FamILLy First Backpack and School Supply Drive in conjunction with FamILLy Movie Night, it was announced Tuesday. Coach Bielema and his wife, Jen, initiated the drive by donating the first 150 backpacks to Champaign-Urbana schools, along with 100 Fighting Illini football season tickets, in honor of Memorial Stadium's 100th Anniversary season.

Led by WR Pat Bryant, LB Kenenna Odeluga, and DB Miles Scott, Fighting Illini football players are also participating. The players will contribute funds for school supplies to be included in the Bielema family's backpack donation.

"Jen and I are excited to launch our backpack and school supply drive for the Champaign-Urbana community," Bielema said. "It has been awesome to see our players' eagerness to be involved in the community as well. We are looking forward to giving back while also providing tickets for young fans to enjoy this historic season at Memorial Stadium, a place that has provided so many great memories for our family."

"The team is excited to give back and help kids in the community in any way we can," Scott said. "We can't wait to see all the kids in Memorial Stadium again this fall."

Fighting Illini fans can participate by donating school supplies during Illinois' FamILLy Movie Night on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Memorial Stadium. For every school supply donated, fans will receive a free bucket of popcorn (first 250 donations, limit two per family). FamILLy Movie Night starts on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT with an autograph session with Fighting Illini football players, followed by a showing of Kung Fu Panda 4 on the Memorial Stadium videoboard.

A school supply donation at FamILLy Movie Night will also enter fans into a raffle for free season tickets. Four sets of four season tickets to the Fighting Illini's 2024 campaign will be drawn prior to the movie starting.

Illini fans' school supply donations at FamILLy Movie Night will be delivered to local schools together with the Bielema family's backpack donation.

In addition to the 16 season tickets drawn at FamILLy Movie Night, Coach Bielema is set to donate 84 additional season tickets to local schools and charities totaling 100 season tickets in honor of Memorial Stadium's 100th Anniversary celebration.

Illinois begins its historic 2024 season on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Eastern Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

###