CINCINNATI (OH) — Xavier University Athletics and its multimedia rights holder Learfield announced a uniform patch sponsorship in a unique and historic agreement with 1N5, one of the region’s leading nonprofit organizations focused on preventing suicide and promoting mental health. Corresponding with September marking recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, 1N5 will become the official uniform patch partner for Xavier Athletics. Beginning with the current fall season, the 1N5 logo will appear on game uniforms for Xavier intercollegiate teams.
Xavier University is the first BIG EAST Conference school and first major NCAA Division I institution to have a uniform patch tied to an agreement with a nonprofit organization. Other major schools have announced sponsorships with for-profit corporations. Effective August 1, 2026, the NCAA is permitting Division I teams to feature commercial sponsorship patches on uniforms and apparel during the regular season and preseason.
Nancy Eigel-Miller founded the James W. Miller Memorial Fund in 2010. It is now known as 1N5, a name that reflects the reality that one in five adults, and as many as one in three youth, live with a mental health condition. Eigel-Miller lost her husband Jim, a former Xavier administrator, to suicide in 2008. She spent her career in the marketing and market research arena, but the call to educate young people about mental health awareness and suicide prevention compelled her to found 1N5.
“This relationship will help expand awareness beyond the Greater Cincinnati community,” said Eigel-Miller. “1N5’s mission is aligned with Xavier’s mission to educate the whole person, promote the common good and serve others. Together, we have an opportunity to shift the broader, national conversation about mental health among young people. This partnership allows us to use the visibility of Xavier Athletics to reach students, alumni, fans, families and young people all over the country with messages of hope, connection and support. I can’t think of a better partner than Xavier Athletics in spreading the message.”
The multi-year agreement between Xavier Athletics and 1N5 will support investments in the mental well-being of student athletes, including mental wellness programming, education for coaches and athletic staff, and outreach reaching the entire student body, area youth, and the broader community. Complete terms of Xavier’s sponsorship agreement with 1N5 are not being released.
“When our student-athletes wear the 1N5 patch, they will represent Xavier’s pledge to caring deeply for our students, colleagues, and the broader community,” said Xavier University President Colleen Hanycz, Ph.D. “We are proud to partner with an organization that shares our dedication to the whole person and reflects the spirit of cura personalis, the Jesuit Catholic commitment to mind, body and spirit that inspires and guides our work every day.”
“I believe this partnership effectively meshes our new revenue realities and Xavier’s values,” said Harmon Family Vice President and Director of Athletics Greg Christopher. “This business partnership with 1N5 is unlike any sponsorship Xavier Athletics has ever pursued. I appreciate Nancy Eigel-Miller’s willingness to partner with us. We are honored to join with 1N5 and place their logo on our uniforms, which allows us to use our national platform to expand the conversation on mental wellness. This is an issue that impacts individuals and families everywhere.”
The need for 1N5’s programming is most acute among the young people 1N5 and Xavier are built to serve. According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), half of all mental illness emerges before age 14, and three-quarters before age 24, and in the past year, 12.5 percent of college-aged students reported seriously considering suicide. 1N5 works to change those statistics by reducing stigma and increasing knowledge of signs, symptoms, protective factors, and available resources.
This partnership will build on the existing Xavier services for students that feature a full wellbeing ecosystem including prevention programs, mental health treatment and crisis management. The offering earned Xavier No. 8 in the country for Best Student Support and Counseling Services and No. 10 for Best Health Services in this year’s Princeton Review Best Colleges rankings.
For more on 1N5 and how you can support the mission, visit 1N5.org.
The national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline allows a person to call, text or chat 988 to be connected to trained counselors who will listen, provide support, and connect to resources if necessary. Visit www.988lifeline.org for more information.
The Muskie Mental Health line (513-745-1001) is XU’s internal crisis line that allows students to speak with a mental health professional immediately. More information is available on the Xavier Counseling Services web site.
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About Xavier Athletics
Xavier University, a Jesuit Catholic University located in Cincinnati, Ohio, was founded in 1831. Xavier, an NCAA Division I member for intercollegiate athletics, sponsors 19 athletic programs, including nine men’s sports and nine women’s sports. All 19 sports compete in the BIG EAST Conference. Xavier Athletics empowers student-athletes to excel academically, athletically and spiritually. Athletics serves as a platform for national exposure and a vehicle for student, faculty, staff, alumni and community pride and engagement. For more information on Xavier Athletics visit GoXavier.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
About 1N5
The mission of 1N5 is to prevent suicide by erasing the stigma of mental illness and promoting optimal mental wellness. 1N5 provides education designed to build mental health literacy, increase knowledge of mental health resources, and normalize conversations about mental health in three primary spaces: schools, communities, and workplaces. Our programming is data-driven, evidence-informed, upstream, and strength-based, moving us closer to our vision of a world without suicide and a community of people with optimal mental health.