PITTSBURGH — Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand received an outpouring of support at the grassroots level in the week after becoming paralyzed from the neck down.
Athletic Director Tim Pernetti announced Friday the formation of the “Eric LeGrand Believe Fund” — a trust that gives anyone interested in supporting LeGrand and his family an opportunity to do so.
“Because of the outpouring of support, I think people are anxious to know what they can do and where they can direct it,” Pernetti said. “I would expect there would be quite a bit of support for this.”
The trust was formed in conjunction with PNC Wealth Management, and all donations, which are not tax deductible, will go directly to the LeGrand family.
The trust allows the LeGrand family to use the funds at its own discretion so it can cover medical bills or needs the family may have due to LeGrand’s injury, which he suffered making a tackle Oct. 16 against Army.
“I think the LeGrand family did a terrific job in how they set this thing up, because it allows them the most flexibility in dispersing funds for both Eric’s recovery and their family needs,” Pernetti said.
While Pernetti’s announcement, which the NCAA allowed, moved the fund to the forefront of visibility and is the means through which the LeGrand family will accept direct donations, there are also other fundraising efforts throughout the University community.
School of Arts and Sciences junior Erica Bowden started a project that will sell red and black wristbands reading “Eric LeGrand” and “52 Believe.” Wristbands are $5 and available Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the front steps of Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus.
Steve Ostergren, manager of the apparel store Scarlet Fever, is also leading a fundraising effort by selling LeGrand shirts at his Somerset Street store.
The store is selling two shirts: a red one with LeGrand’s No. 52 on the front and back with “Keep Chopping” above the back numbers and a white one with LeGrand’s No. 52 and the word “Believe” — the mantra the Rutgers football team adopted.
The Scarlet Knights will wear “Believe” stickers across their helmets for the remainder of the season. In their first game after LeGrand’s injury on Saturday — a 41-21 loss to Pittsburgh — they received support from Pittsburgh, as well.
“This league has been great and this whole nation has been great reaching out and I can’t thank you enough,” head football coach Greg Schiano said. “Another week has gone by and another game has been played and Eric is still in the same situation. Nothing has changed.”
Pernetti declined to update LeGrand’s condition — who suffered a spinal cord injury at the C3-C4 level — but did say he spent time with LeGrand, who was in “good spirits” before Pernetti left Hackensack University Medical Center for Pittsburgh.
The University insurance policy covered LeGrand’s medical expenses to date, and it has a lifetime maximum benefit of $20 million.
“The NCAA policy that we participate in as it relates to these types of injuries is comprehensive and covers about as broad a reach of things as it can,” Pernetti said. “For this type of injury, it covers not only in all medical expenses, but the potential of home remodeling. You name it, it’s part of the policy as it relates to the injury.”
But the establishment of the Believe Fund is expected to significantly ease the financial burden of the LeGrand family, and one of the aspects that Pernetti is most pleased with is the cooperation from the NCAA.
The fund allows University staff members the ability to contribute to the trust.
In combination with the community movement to support LeGrand, Pernetti expects the trust and support to continuously grow.
“The most important thing for everybody was to move as quickly as possible to get something set up for Eric and his family,” Pernetti said. “As this evolves, I imagine there will be a variety of ways in which people can assist the family in Eric’s recovery.”