INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts are proud to announce Katie Van Tornhout, a local South Bend, IN resident as the first 2017 season honoree of the Colts Anthem Angels program, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Van Tornhout will be recognized at the Colts home game this Sunday, September 17, 2017.
In 2010, Katie Van Tornhout's daughter, Callie Grace, died unexpectedly at just 38 days old from acute pertussis pneumonia. Since then, Van Tornhout and her husband, Craig, have made it their mission to educate others about the Tdap vaccine and the importance of family and caregiver immunization.
Van Tornhout's advocacy efforts and Callie's story have gained local and national attention. Van Tornhout continues educations efforts on Tdap through speaking at statewide immunization meetings, press conferences, and other speaking engagements. Additionally, she is a parent advocate for the Every Child by Two organization, and organized a fundraiser for the Indiana March of Dimes that raised over $14,000.
To honor her late daughter, Van Tornhout founded the not-for-profit "Callie Cares" in 2012. Van Tornhout and her husband collect toiletry items and use them to create small care bags. These bags are donated to hospitals and provide parents with some of the comforts of home while educating them about the importance of vaccinations.
For her strength and dedication to advocating on behalf of Callie, we want to congratulate Katie Van Tornhout as this week's Anthem Angel.
Van Tornhout will receive four (4) VIP Club Seat Tickets to the Colts game, a feature story with her photo in the Colts gameday magazine (the Scout) and on www.colts.com, as well as on-field recognition at the game.
Nominations are currently being accepted for upcoming 2017 home games. For more information about Anthem Angels, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, please visit: www.colts.com/anthemangels.
