LeRoy Butler Backs Marian Single-Parent Grant
A limited-edition pink No. 36 jersey will support Marian University's Working Families Grant Program for single parents pursuing degrees.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler has partnered with Marian University, with proceeds from a limited-edition pink No. 36 jersey benefiting the university's Working Families Grant Program. The partnership was announced October 8, 2026.
Why it matters
The program helps eligible single parents pursue bachelor's degrees through tuition assistance, living stipends and emergency financial support. Butler's partnership is rooted in his upbringing by a single mother who raised five children while working multiple jobs.
Marian University reports that the Working Families Grant Program has supported 324 parents and more than 500 children through December 2025, with 244 participants graduating for an 83.84% graduation rate. The total jersey sales proceeds that will reach the program have not been disclosed.
The players
LeRoy Butler
Former Green Bay Packers safety who partnered with Marian University, drawing on his experience growing up with a single mother.
Marian University
Indianapolis institution that runs the Working Families Grant Program for single parents seeking bachelor's degrees.
The details
A portion of the sales proceeds from the limited-edition pink No. 36 jersey will go to the Working Families Grant Program. The jersey is sold through Butler's official website, and SSM Health separately announced a $10,000 contribution on October 12, 2026.
Timeline
- 2002: The Working Families Grant Program began.
- December 2025: Program participation and graduation figures were reported through this date.
- October 8, 2026: Marian University announced the Butler partnership.
- October 12, 2026: Marian University announced the SSM Health $10,000 contribution.
Market Landscape
The Working Families Grant Program, which began in 2002, has built a model combining tuition assistance, living stipends and emergency support for single parents. Butler's jersey campaign adds a celebrity fundraising channel to that long-running model in Indianapolis.
Shoppers who buy the limited-edition pink No. 36 jersey through Butler's official website direct a share of their purchase to the Working Families Grant Program. Single parents in Indianapolis weighing a bachelor's degree can look to the program for tuition, stipends and emergency aid.
The takeaway
Support for single parents pursuing degrees can come from a mix of university programs and personal partnerships, and readers interested in the program can explore how such grants operate in practice.
Further reading
Explore more Indianapolis philanthropy coverage to see how local institutions fund education access.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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