As NFL players across the league continue to kneel during the national anthem, using their status in the spotlight to bring awareness to issues of inequality, the Indianapolis Colts have decided to put their money where their mouth is.
Earlier this month, the team announced the creation of the Colts Players Action Fund for Equality, which will be housed under the umbrella of the nonprofit Indianapolis Colts Foundation.
“Our players wanted to take this passionate discussion and transform it into action, progress and positive change in our community, so they created this fund to support nonprofits and organizations that are advancing equality and opportunity, as well as open and honest dialogues about these issues,” Colts spokeswoman Stephanie Pemberton told the Recorder.
Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay was the fund’s first donor, contributing $100,000 to the cause. Pemberton said many current and former Colts players are likely to contribute, in addition to fans.
A news release announcing the fund said it will “support charities that are working to promote equality, improve relationships between law enforcement and the community, and provide opportunities for minorities.” Pemberton said the specifics are still up in the air.
“Since the fund is so new, the players have not yet designated programs that will receive funding. But we currently are working alongside the players to design an action plan for identifying and supporting efforts to advance these goals in our community,” she said.
Pemberton added that nearly all of the team’s coaches and players are involved in bettering the Indianapolis community in various ways including supporting public education, reaching out to feed and house people who are experiencing homelessness, raising awareness about domestic violence, promoting health and wellness, addressing youth violence and more.
Individuals who would like to support the fund can do so online at colts.com/actionfund or by mailing a check, payable to the Indianapolis Colts Foundation with “Action Fund” in the memo, to:
Indianapolis Colts Foundation
Attn: Colts Players Action Fund for Equality
PO Box 535000
Indianapolis, IN 46253
Colts in the community
Colts players, coaches and other personnel can frequently be found lending a helping hand around the Indianapolis community. Here are some of the activities the team’s been engaged in lately:
Community Tuesdays
Players Matthias Farley, Luke Rhodes and Anthony Walker launched Community Tuesdays — a season-long outreach program during which Colts players use their only day off from practice to serve the community — at Second Helpings in Indianapolis. Other Community Tuesdays this season have seen the Colts promoting literacy at local schools, teaming up with Team Smile to bring dental care to needy children and more.
Promoting play
The team’s annual Play 60 Challenge promotes wellness by encouraging families to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Every year for a decade, the Colts have also built a playground at an inner-city school to provide a fun and safe play space for students and community members.
For more information about the Colts’ community outreach, visit colts.com/community.
