Local Celebration Part of NFL's National Initiative
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts are joining the NFL's national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a free youth football camp and recognizing local members of the Indianapolis Hispanic community.
To kick off this celebration, which officially runs September 15 - October 15, the team will open up the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center to more than 200 youth ages 7-17 on Tuesday, September 10, from 6-8 p.m. for a free football clinic. Colts players, along with Blue, will be on hand to interact with the students and help them run through six football drill stations. Players will arrive at 6:30 p.m.
For this event, the Colts are partnering with several community organizations including IPS #79 Carl Wilde Elementary School, El Lirio De Los Valles Church, Concord Neighborhood Center, La Plaza, Inc. and Hawthorne Community Center to engage youth in the Hispanic community. This youth football clinic is also a part of the Colts ongoing commitment to the PLAY 60 initiative, a health and fitness platform that was launched by the NFL in 2007 to encourage youth to be active at least 60 minutes each day.
On Saturday, September 21, the Indianapolis Colts will join La Plaza for FIESTA Indianapolis at the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis. Another attribution to the PLAY 60 initiative, the Colts PLAY 60 Zone will be on-site to allow children to run through three football drills. Colts Cheerleaders will also make a special appearance from 1 p.m.-3p.m. to sign autographs and take photos with visitors.
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FIESTA Indianapolis commenced in 1980 and is the largest annual Latino festival in the state of Indiana. More than 30,000 people attend the event annually. Event activities will feature music, food, dancing and cultural festivities.
The Indianapolis Colts will continue their celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at their game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 15 by presenting the third annual NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, to Juan Gonzalez, local community leader and financial services professional, during pre-game.
The NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award was launched in 2011 by the NFL through a partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. It was created to recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market. Each award recipient has also selected an organization of their choice that serves the Hispanic community to receive a $2,000 donation. Locally, Gonzalez has chosen La Plaza, Inc. to receive this donation.
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Gonzalez, a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series Class, actively serves the community as a board member for the United Way of Central Indiana. A council member of the Hispanic Business Council of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Gonzalez is also the Secretary-Treasurer for Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation. In 2011, Gonzalez was the recipient of the Junior Achievement Indy's Best & Brightest Award for Banking & Financial Services.
About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Since 1987, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) has inspired, identified, prepared and positioned Latino leaders. There call to action is to "help a Latino help a hundred more." Please visit www.HispanicHeritage.org for more information.
