Bielema Announces Third Annual FamILLy First Backpack and School Supply Drive
July 30, 2026 | Football
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the third consecutive year, Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema, his wife Jen, and the Illinois football team have launched the FamILLy First Backpack and School Supply Drive in conjunction with Busey Bank FamILLy Movie Night. The Bielema family has kicked off the drive by donating the first 150 backpacks to Champaign-Urbana schools.
Fighting Illini fans can get involved by donating school supplies during Illinois' FamILLy Movie Night on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Gies Memorial Stadium. For every one school supply donated, fans will receive a free popcorn to enjoy during the movie (first 150 donations, limit two per family).
Gates open for FamILLy Movie Night starts on Aug. 8 at 5:15 p.m. CT. An autograph session with Fighting Illini football players starts at 5:30 p.m. CT, followed by the showing of Air Bud on the new Gies Memorial Stadium videoboard, the largest videoboard in college football, at 7 p.m. CT.
Illini fans' school supply donations at FamILLy Movie Night will be delivered to local schools together with the Bielema family's backpacks donation. This year, Illinois is teaming up with the Big Ten Network and B1G+ to include three months of free subscriptions and Big Ten swag in every backpack handed out in Champaign and Urbana.
The Illinois football program is also offering free tickets to area teachers for the program's game against Duke on Sept. 12, as part of the College Football Playoff's Extra Yard for Teachers campaign. School administrators and principals can contact Colin Dilworth at colind@illinois.edu.
Illinois begins the 2026 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 against UAB at Gies Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
