Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Becomes Official Sponsor of Notre Dame Athletics

South Bend, IN – April 8, 2025 – Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NDGP), the multimedia rightsholder for the University of Notre Dame Athletics Department, announced today a new partnership with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (MCHF) that will recognize and honor the military branch’s 250-year legacy across men’s basketball, women’s basketball, hockey, volleyball and football games throughout the year.  The year 2025 marks 250 years since the U.S. Marine Corps was founded back in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775. For two and a half centuries, “The Few” have fought our nation’s battles and protected its future.

Honor, service and commitment to mission are values shared by the University of Notre Dame and the United States Marines. For generations, Notre Dame has valued its commitment to and support of the men and women who serve in the armed forces, and Notre Dame Athletics is excited to enter into an official partnership with the MCHF.  The Marine Corps has gone through many changes since 1775, but the character of the individual Marine and the values they uphold have never changed.

“At Notre Dame, we take great pride in honoring those who serve, and there is no better example of courage, commitment, and character than the United States Marine Corps,” said Jim Fraleigh, Deputy Athletics Director. “Partnering with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in celebrating this historic 250th anniversary is a privilege, and we are excited to share in recognizing the legacy of ‘The Few’ who have dedicated themselves to protecting our nation.”

“The Marine Corps has epitomized selfless service and sacrifice for our nation for 250 years,” said Maj Gen James W. Lukeman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. “This milestone is an opportunity for Americans to come together and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve. We are deeply grateful for the support of our partners at Notre Dame Athletics in ensuring this anniversary is celebrated with the recognition it so richly deserves.”

For more information about the 250^th Anniversary of the Marine Corps, please visit www.marine250.com.

Notre Dame Global Partnerships, a joint venture between Legends and JMI Sports, facilitated the partnership.

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About Notre Dame Athletics
As it pertains to athletic and academic success, the University of Notre Dame has few peers across the nation. Sponsoring 26 varsity athletic programs, Notre Dame teams have won 37 national championships that span over 100 years of competitive excellence. The University’s first national title was earned by football in 1924, led by legendary head coach Knute Rockne. The most recent trophies for the Fighting Irish were Kevin Corrigan’s men’s lacrosse teams completing back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. The 2023-24 season was so successful that Notre Dame claimed its third Capital One Cup in the last 11 years, joining Florida and Stanford with the most trophies ever given to the nation’s best men’s or women’s athletic teams. Notre Dame athletic teams have produced the third-most Academic All-Americans among Division I schools and Fighting Irish student-athletes have ranked first or second among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rating for 16 straight years.

About Notre Dame Global Partnerships
Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NGDP) manages the sales, marketing, sponsorship, multimedia rights, and branding services for the University of Notre Dame’s Athletics programs. Founded in 2018, NDGP is a joint venture between JMI Sports and Legends, formed to build integrated partnerships with industry-leading partners that share the University’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. Notre Dame’s status as one of the most recognizable and iconic institutions in collegiate athletics offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with fans, students, and alumni globally. NDGP is creating new and innovative partnerships that contribute to the University’s mission while also upholding its storied history and tradition.

About Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
Dedicated to the preservation and promulgation of Marine Corps history, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation was established in 1979 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation supports the historical programs of the Marine Corps in ways not possible through government funds. The Foundation provides grants and scholarships for research and the renovation, restoration and commissioning of historical Marine Corps artifacts and landmarks. The Foundation secured the necessary funding for the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center, located in Triangle, Virginia, and continues to expand programs at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and beyond its walls. For more information, visit MarineHeritage.org.

Media Contacts
Matthew Morrissey / mmorrissey@susandavis.com
Stephanie Grooms / grooms@marineheritage.org
Stacey Escudero, Legends / sescudero@legends.net