Each time they went out on the field and their game was broadcast on Sports Radio or BOB FM, high school football players were earning dollars for several local charities.

As a sponsor of Touchdowns for the Table, INB donates $1 for every point scored in a game. The sum is split evenly between Friend-in-Deed, Kids Café, and St. Martin de Porres. This year, each charity will receive $800. This includes a donation from the shortened 2020-21 season games played in the spring, as well as for the 2021 fall games.

 “We’ve been making this donation since 2014,” says Pat Phalen, INB executive vice president. “We’ve now donated almost $13,000, a mark we’re proud of. The holidays are supposed to be happy times, and we hope the food provided by these charities will give people something to smile about.”

• Friend-in-Deed, provides food at Christmas for needy families in the Springfield area.
• Kids Café, a partnership between the Springfield Urban League and the Central Illinois Foodbank, feeds 75-100 children each day.
• Martin de Porres’ mission is to serve the needy with dignity. The agency uses cash donation to purchase food, goods and other general items.