Gary and Kelsey Patterson aiding Fort Worth, TCU communities during pandemic
TCU football coach Gary Patterson and his wife Kelsey are doing their part to aid those in need amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Patterson’s gifted $50,000 to support the “Frog Family Crisis Fund” on Wednesday, which is designed to help TCU students and their families in times like these.
“TCU and Fort Worth have been so good to Kelsey and I for 20-some years,” Patterson said. “Young people are our passion and mission, so when we found out there was a need to help the Frog Family Crisis Fund, we were in!”
On Tuesday, Patterson was seen wearing a mask and gloves as he handed out care packages to families in need at the Como Community Center. Packages included food for families, as well as their dogs, personal hygiene items and “fun packs” with 80-page activity books, toys, pencils, crayons and markers to give children things to do while at home.
“I wanted to make sure we got out and people saw us wearing masks and gloves,” Patterson said. “You’ve got to stay out of harm’s way. All of us have to do our part.”
The Gary Patterson Foundation partnered with Saving Hope Rescue and Fort Worth SPARC to put together 500 bags, including 100 that were distributed at Como. Others will be distributed at Western Hills Elementary, Eastern Hills Pyramid (which includes 13 schools) and Polytechnic Pyramid (which includes 12 schools).
“Throughout the summer and beyond, we will continue to evaluate the needs in our community and develop additional projects to help student and their families,” Kelsey Patterson said. “In addition to the need for meals and essentials, a major issue for families with students out of school is access to technology. We are researching ways to partner with others in our community to address this issue as well.”
The monetary donation made personally by the Patterson’s will help TCU’s crisis fund that goes toward people in need during hardships such as this.
The donation was recognized by athletic director Jeremiah Donati, who posted on social media: “These two continue to show great leadership in our Fort Worth community!”
“Gary and Kelsey have stepped up for our community in so many ways, whether that’s for the underprivileged, folks in need or even for animals,” Donati said. “They just always seems to step up for the Fort Worth community and TCU. I wasn’t surprised at all when Gary came to me and said he wanted to do something for the TCU families who have been really hurt by this so far.”
The Patterson Foundation helped feed 40,000 families on Thanksgiving last year, and Patterson said the goal was to increase that number this year. The Foundation has also granted funds for all 83 Fort Worth ISD elementary school libraries the last two years.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 12:11 PM.
