Panthers coach and wife continue mission in Charlotte to help prevent sexual abuse

CHARLOTTE — Even in the lead-up to one of the most important draft weeks in the history of the franchise, Carolina Panthers Head Coach Frank Reich and his family were hard at work launching their foundation’s operations in Charlotte to help give back to the community.

Frank and Linda Reich launched The Knot Today Foundation four years ago in Indianapolis with the goal of fighting sexual abuse and exploitation of children by providing prevention strategies and restorative services, along with raising awareness.

On Monday night, Panthers Owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole, the chief administrative officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment, were in attendance as the Reichs held a panel discussion. On the panel were Erin Merryn, one of the leading advocates in the fight against child exploitation, CMS Interim Superintendent Crystal Hill, and CEO of Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center Andrew Oliver.

The Reichs say they’re finding partners here in Charlotte to shine a light on what they call a silent epidemic.

“We can vet, we can go into a city and find out who are the major players who are the ones doing it right, who has the model that can last?” Frank Reich said. “We can maybe help accelerate some of the things they want to do that they haven’t been able to do, and we can come alongside [them].”

The Reichs are offering up $100,000 in grants to groups in need in the Carolinas, and you can help nominate where the money should go. Click this link to nominate a group or charity, or apply.

“It’s about having that passion, that calling, and realizing that we as adults, it’s our responsibility to advocate for these beautiful and innocent children and protect them,” Linda Reich said.

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