Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has made an impact well beyond the field. Alongside his brother, Mendoza launched a fundraising campaign in support of the National MS Society, a cause deeply personal to the family, as their mother lives with multiple sclerosis. What began as a modest effort has quickly gained momentum, and the campaign is now closing in on its ambitious goal.

Mendoza initially set a target of $20,000, but donations surged past that mark, prompting him to raise the goal to $50,000. With contributions continuing to pour in, the target was ultimately increased to $100,000. As of now, the campaign has raised more than $65,000, putting Mendoza over 65 percent of the way to his final goal. Given the level of support, surpassing the $100,000 mark remains a real possibility.

“We’re not victims, we’re attacking this. It’s great to stay as a family, especially since it’s the Christmas season, the season of giving. It’s a really special moment that we can all share.” Mendoza said to the press.

The Mendoza brothers launched the Mendoza Burrito campaign last year at La Burrita in Berkeley in honor of their mother, Elsa Mendoza, who lives with multiple sclerosis. Their efforts didn’t stop there.

They later partnered with two restaurants, BuffaLouie and Gable’s Bagels, which agreed to sell the “Mendoza Bros. Burger” and the “Mendoza Bros. Cubano” bagel sandwich, respectively. One hundred percent of the proceeds from both items will go directly to the National MS Society to support research, programs, and services.

For the brothers, the success of these campaigns is a way of giving back to their mother.

“My mom means the world to me. She’s the most caring and positive person I know, and I’ll keep doing everything I can to support her and others living with MS! Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. live with this unpredictable and often disabling disease, and while progress has been made, there’s still so much more to do,” Fernando’s statement on the campaign read.

The success of the campaign will surely be a mental boost for Fernando Mendoza in the upcoming playoff games.

Fernando Mendoza and Indiana are looking to win it all

The Hoosiers finished the regular season unbeaten with an impressive 13-0 record. Even more remarkably, they defeated Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game and looked every bit like a national title contender. Fernando Mendoza outplayed fellow Heisman hopeful Julian Sayin in the matchup, a performance that could influence the Heisman Trophy ceremony on December 30 in Jazz at Lincoln Center.

By winning the Big Ten Championship, Indiana entered the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed. The Hoosiers earned a first-round bye and will open their postseason run in the quarterfinals against the winner of the first-round matchup between Oklahoma and Alabama.

With momentum in their favor, Indiana has a realistic path to competing for both the Heisman Trophy and the College Football Playoff National Championship.

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