Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH BEND, IND. — Katie Schwab’s “other family” is planning to help their sister.

Schwab is a graduate of Ironton St. Joseph and a 2013 graduate of Saint Mary’s College, sister college and next door neighbor to the University of Notre Dame.

She worked both as a student manager and is currently an operations assistant to the Fighting Irish women’s basketball staff.

But a few months ago, Schwab was hospitalized due to life-threatening complications to her Type 1 diabetes.

Sunday from 2-6 p.m. a “Team Katie” fundraiser social will be held to the general public at the historic Linebacker Lounge, 1631 South Bend Avenue, to help raise money to defray medical expenses for Schwab who is currently at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

The fundraiser will be a combination of live and silent auctions. Irish women’s basketball announcer Bob Nagle will call the live auction.

Among the items to be auctioned include:

• Autographed footballs signed by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White, 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III as well as former Notre Dame players and current NFL stars Manti Te’o and Chris Watt (San Diego) and Michael Floyd (Arizona).

• Basketballs autographed by Notre Dame All-Americans Ruth Riley — former NCAA Player of the Year — and Skylar Diggins, Fighting Irish men’s coach Mike Brey and former Irish head coach and ESPN analyst Digger Phelps.

• A chair from the Notre Dame team bench at this year’s women’s NCAA Final Four in Nashville signed by the Fighting Irish coaching staff including head coach Muffet McGraw.

• A jersey from the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars autographed by former Irish star Kayla McBride.

• Tickets to future games with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, NBA’s Indiana Pacers and MLB’s Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians plus two autographed baseballs.

• Tickets to the Dec. 6 Notre Dame-UConn women’s game at Purcell Pavillion (the 13th annual Jimmy V Women’s Classic).

• Tickets to a “Lou’s Lads” event and photo opportunity with legendary former Notre Dame football coach and current ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz.

• A brick and piece of floor form the original home of Notre Dame basketball — the Notre Dame Fieldhouse.

“When Katie was first admitted, we all were taking turns bringing food, paying visits, and assisting the family any way that we could,” said Chris Bacsik, one of the event’s organizers and Notre Dame’s assistant football equipment manager.

“When we knew that Katie’s recovery would be an extended process, we want to find a way to help the family with all the extra costs that come with a situation like that. Through the generosity of people like Notre Dame, friends in the community and even people who didn’t know Katie personally but heard her story and wanted to help, we were able to secure a lot of great items for auction with all of the proceeds going to her medical expenses.”

Katie is the daughter of Tammy and John Schwab of Ironton. Family and friends have set up a page on CaringBridge.org/visit/katieschwab to provide well-wishers with updates on her condition.

Supporters who would like to send her notes, cards or other words of encouragement are asked to send them to the Notre Dame women’s basketball office, C113 Joyce Center, First Floor, Notre Dame, IND 46556.