INDIANAPOLIS – On Sunday, Dec. 20, the Colts partnered with "Books for Youth" title sponsor Cargo Services, Inc. and Indiana Department of Child Services to host the 2015 Books For Youth Book Drive prior to the Colts vs. Texans game. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., volunteers collected donations from football fans to benefit the "Books for Youth" program. Fans donated nearly 1,700 new and gently used books for children and over $1,100, as monetary donations were also collected at the Colts Community Collection Stations, presented by Toyota, located outside each Lucas Oil Stadium gate.
The "Books for Youth" program, which was started by the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, provides Indiana foster youth with a backpack filled with 25 age-appropriate books. To date, more than 800,000 books have been collected and more than 7,500 backpacks have been distributed to children in foster care throughout the State of Indiana.
Throughout the year, Colts fans also are invited to support "Books for Youth" through the Buy One, Donate One program. For each special edition BLUE backpack purchased at the Colts Pro Shop, one is donated to the program and distributed to an Indiana foster child. For a limited time, the Colts Pro Shop will be offering the BLUE backpacks in store and online for just $10. To purchase a blue or pink backpack online, visit www.colts.com/booksforyouth.
Additionally, fans can continue supporting the Colts Gameday Collection Program and "Books for Youth" by utilizing social media. Fans may tag @CARGOSIND and @IndianaDCS on Twitter, @ColtsCommunity on Twitter and Instagram or 'Colts in the Community' on Facebook with the hashtag #BooksForYouth.
The Colts Gameday Collections program will continue to run throughout the 2015 season with a different charitable collection held prior to each home game. The next Gameday Collection will be the Damar Services Hat & Coat Collection. To view the full list of 2015 Colts Gameday Collections and for more
information please visit www.colts.com/collections.
Indianapolis Colts, Dept. of Child Services and Cargo Services, Inc. Encouraged Donations for âBooks For Youthâ before Texans Game
About Books for Youth
The "Books for Youth" program was officially launched in 2006 through a partnership between the Indianapolis Colts and DCS with the goal of placing a backpack filled with 25 age-appropriate books in the hands of every Indiana foster child. The statewide initiative was created after Steve Pemberton, a former foster child, shared his story of personal triumph over situational tragedy crediting a gift from a stranger – a box of books - as his motivation to overcome challenges and provide hope for his future. Books for Youth title sponsor Cargo Services, Inc. one of the only Indiana-based owned and operated freight forwarding companies, has sponsored the program since 2009. At any given time, there are 12,000 children in Indiana's foster care system. For more information about Books For Youth or to volunteer or host your own book drive, please visit www,colts.com/booksforyouth.
About Cargo Services, Inc.
Cargo Services global logistics team is considered one of the best in the business by its customers and professional partners throughout Indiana, the Midwest and the world. Company owners, managers and employees have more than 500 years of combined international transportation experience in all facets of freight-forwarding and customs brokerage services. The team uses its talents, knowledge and expertise to partner with clients representing manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, plastics, animal feed, food, publishing and other business sectors to seamlessly move air, ocean and ground cargo. The team creates long-term customer relationships of trust through the company's "3-C culture": customer focused, creative solutions and community driven. For more information, visit www.cargos.com.
