The Petrino Family Foundation, established by Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino and his family, has donated more than $1 million.
Grants were given to the Kosair Children's Hospital Trauma Program, a scholarship program for students, and the Louisville marching band.
"As a family, we felt strongly that our first grants should reflect our commitment to this city and the University of Louisville," Petrino said.
The first grant is $1 million to support the Children's Hospital Foundation through the Trauma Program at Kosair Children's Hospital. This grant will establish the Petrino Family Trauma Room in the emergency department.
"Kosair Children's Hospital serves children throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana, making it a true asset to this state and region," said Kelsey Petrino Scott, Executive Director of the Petrino Family Foundation. "The number of children needing emergency and trauma care is just staggering. Providing this level of care requires resources such as specialists to provide the care and the equipment that will fit the smallest infant to the adult-sized teenager. We're happy we could help ensure that this care continues."
In addition to Kosair Children's Hospital, the Petrino Family Foundation established the Petrino Family Foundation Scholarship, which will fund a Cardinal Covenant Scholarship. In 2007, the University of Louisville initiated a special program called the Cardinal Covenant in response to college costs and the challenge for students from low-income families to fund their education. The University of Louisville's Cardinal Covenant is the first program of its kind in the state of Kentucky. This program will make college attainable for the 22.6% of Kentucky families living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level as published by the U.S. Census Bureau (Data obtain from the U.S. Census Bureau).
The University of Louisville will make a promise to incoming freshmen who meet the following criteria to award enough gift assistance from federal, state, private, and institutional sources to cover their direct costs (tuition, room, board, and books). Students will be able to graduate debt free as long as they graduate within four years and remain Pell Grant eligible each year.
Also, the Petrino Family Foundation will provide a donation toward the purchase of brand new uniforms for the University of Louisville Marching Band.