INDIANAPOLIS – On Sunday, September 17th the Colts will team up with Cargo Services, Inc. and Indiana Department of Child Services to host a book collection for the "Books for Youth" program prior to the Colts vs. Cardinals Game. From 11 am to 1 pm., volunteers will collect donations from Colts fans at the Colts Community Collection Stations, presented by Toyota, located outside each Lucas Oil Stadium gate.
All donations will support "Books for Youth," a program started by the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, which provides Indiana foster youth with a backpack filled with 25 age-appropriate books. Cargo Services, Inc. had been a title sponsor since 2007. The company owners have been instrumental in the program's growth.
"We are proud to be involved and encourage members of our community to help by giving the gift of reading. This is a fantastic program that gives our Hoosier foster children something to call their own," says Steve Fugate, Cargo Services, Inc. CFO.
To date, more than 875,000 books have been collected and more than 8,000 backpacks have been distributed to children in foster care throughout the State of Indiana. Fans are encouraged to donate new or gently used books for children birth to 18 years old. Monetary donations will also be accepted at each Lucas Oil Stadium gate.
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. To purchase a backpack online, visit www.colts.com/booksforyouth.
Additionally, fans are encouraged to show support for 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. Show us your favorite book that you are donating to the foster children in Indiana!
The Colts Gameday Collections program will continue to run throughout the 2017 season with a different charitable collection held prior to each home game. To view the full list of 2017 Colts Gameday Collections and for more information please visit www.colts.com/collections.
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.
