The Indianapolis Colts today announced a $1 million gift to support PataSchool, an initiative of The Patachou Foundation to transform school kitchens in Indianapolis into spaces where childhood hunger is met head-on with free, nutritious meals for every student during the school year and summer programs.

The PataSchool model restores working kitchens in schools, hires and trains culinary staff and provides free, scratch-made meals to 100 percent of the schools' student body.

The Colts gift will help support three PataSchools, which will serve 1.2 million meals to 3,500 students in Indianapolis over the next five years. The funds will come from proceeds of the Colts' gameday 50/50 Raffle, meaning Colts fans are also contributing to the effort.

"For many children, school breakfasts and lunches are the only guaranteed meals of the day, with school meals accounting for half of a child's daily calories," said Colts Vice Chair & Owner Kalen Jackson.

"One in five kids in Indianapolis is living with hunger, and the lack of access to quality food negatively impacts school attendance, behavior in and out of school and overall health," Jackson added. "That's why the Colts are so happy to support PataSchool, because ending food insecurity should be a reachable goal in a state and country as bountiful as we are."

At one PataSchool – at Adelante Schools at Emma Donnan School #72 on the city's near southeast side – the transformed kitchen and cafeteria will be known as Colts Commons, offering more than 450 students more healthy meal options that make lunch both nutritious and exciting.

"We are committed to building an unbeatable scholar experience in our school," said Edward Rangel, CEO of Adelante Schools. "By providing nutritious, scratch-made meals, we're not just addressing hunger; we're creating a foundation for enhanced focus, better attendance and greater academic success."

The Colts also will support two existing PataSchools at Circle City Prep Elementary School on the far east side and Purdue Polytechnic High School on the near eastside. Schools have reported increased attendance, better academic performance and reduced behavioral issues.

The Colts gift also will support future growth of the sustainable PataSchool model.

"Tackling food insecurity requires innovative solutions beyond immediate aid," said Martha Hoover, founder of The Patachou Foundation and founder of Won't Stop Hospitality, Inc., parent company of Cafe Patachou restaurants. "PataSchool was created to be part of the solution. Creating sustainable approaches to hunger relief makes measurable differences in the lives of those who need it most: kids."

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About The Patachou Foundation. The Patachou Foundation combats childhood hunger through two innovative programs: PataSchool and the Food Fellowship. PataSchool empowers schools to fight hunger from inside the school cafeteria with daily, high-quality meals. The Food Fellowship offers high school job training that equips teens with valuable skills, offering pathways to break the cycle of poverty and food insecurity. This holistic approach provides nourishment for today and fosters self-sufficiency and long-term well-being for the future. For more info, visit thepatachoufoundation.org/pataschool.

About Adelante Schools. Adelante Schools operates Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School, a public tuition-free charter school within the Indianapolis Public Schools' Innovation Network, authorized by the Indianapolis Mayor's Office of Educational Innovation. Serving over 420 K-8 scholars on the south side of Indianapolis, Adelante focuses on strong academics and an unbeatable scholar experience. For more info, visit adelanteschools.org.