Presented by the Colts, Indiana Department of Child
Services, and Cargo Services
ANDERSON – On Wednesday, August 4, forty-five foster children from the Anderson, Ind. area received an opportunity to participate in a special visit to Colts Training Camp, compliments of the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) and Cargo Services. As a part of the Books for Youth program, each foster youth was presented a backpack filled with 25 age-appropriate books.
The foster children and their families sat in a reserved area as they watched Wednesday's morning practice. Afterwards, the children were escorted to a special tent where they received a surprise visit from our beloved mascot, Blue. Despite the blistering heat, the faces of the children immediately brightened as he walked into the tent to distribute the backpacks. The families also had time after practice to visit Colts City, which included interactive inflatables, Colts giveaways, cheerleader autograph session, and Colts in Motion traveling museum.
This event is part of the four (4) backpack distributions Cargo Services plan to host in 2010. With one more intended distribution, the Indianapolis Colts needs the help of our fans! Visit any Colts Pro Shop or online at www.coltsproshop.com and purchase a limited-edition BLUE backpack. For every backpack purchased, we will donate a backpack filled with books to a foster child. Support a great cause and show your Colts pride!
About Books for Youth
On Tuesday, December 12, 2006 the Indianapolis Colts announced a new partnership with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) for the "Books for Youth" program. Through this program, the Colts and the DCS will provide every foster child in Indiana with their own personal library of 25 age-appropriate books.
On any given day in Marion County alone, more than 1,200 children are in the foster care system and too often they leave their belongings behind when they move. The Colts and DCS want to change that by helping place 25 age- appropriate books per child into the hands of foster youth and young adults and are asking for community support to make a smart handoff to Indiana's youth.
Since launching this initiative, the Colts and DCS have collected more than 360,000 books statewide through gameday collections, school book drives, Colts Blue Friday events and more. To learn more about Books for Youth, visit www.colts.com/booksforyouth.
