BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
Breast Cancer - it’s something that affects hundreds of thousands of women every year. It reaches our mothers, our daughters and our sisters.

This Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization (ICWO) is asking Colts fans to honor women who have been affected by this deadly disease and support the continued efforts to find a cure. Prior to kickoff of the Colts vs. Buccaneers game on October 7, representatives from the ICWO, as well as volunteers from Zeta Tau Alpha, will be distributing pink ribbons and temporary tattoos outside each of the RCA Dome gates.

At the game, ICWO members will also be selling limited edition ladies Colts t-shirts featuring a pink horseshoe and ribbon. The t-shirts, which are $20 each, will be available outside of Aisle 103 and on suite level through the end of halftime. All proceeds will benefit the Indianapolis Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

THE “MANE” EVENT
It was a little louder than normal at the Pike Library Branch on Wednesday, September 26. Instead of quiet whispers, sounds of laughter and excitement rang out as numerous children welcomed some very special guests to the library – Colts QB Josh Betts, DB Matt Giordano and Blue. The visit was part of the kickoff for the Colts Blue Ribbon Literacy Campaign, designed to encourage Hoosiers of all ages to read and be active members of their local library.

Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in numerous games, create their own Colts bookmark, listen to a story read by Betts and Giordano, get their face painted, meet Blue, enjoy snacks and win great prizes. They also receive a special “Blue’s Book Club” bookmark featuring a list of Blue’s favorite books.
The Colts will be hosting additional Family Reading Nights in the coming months. Each event is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, October 10
College Avenue Library Branch
4180 College Ave., Indianapolis, IN
3:30-6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 26
East 38th St. Library Branch
5420 E. 38th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46218
4:00-7:00 p.m.

Additional information on the Colts Blue Ribbon Literacy Campaign will be available at www.colts.com/community in the coming weeks.

A BUSY WEEK
Busy. That’s the best word to describe the Colts as they headed into the fourth week of the 2007 season.
Busy on the field – making big plays and taking big hits.
Busy off the field – showing a softer side of football.

From football clinics to field trips, more than forty Colts players, coaches, wives and staff members participated in a community-based event last week.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Caps and Gowns
On Monday, more than thirty Colts players took a few minutes to celebrate a big achievement in their lives – a college degree. In partnership with Herff Jones and the Indiana Education Savings Authority, Colts players who have completed their college degree, donned graduation gowns and hats and posed for a picture to commemorate their achievement. The photograph will be used on a poster and distributed to Indiana high schools, encouraging students to attend college and get their degree.

The Colts have the highest percentage of college graduates among all NFL teams.

A Special Night
Immediately following the photo shoot, Colts LS Justin Snow hosted his fifth annual Special Olympics Football Clinic. During the event, two hundred Special Olympics athletes took part in various football drills at the Colts Training Facility. The drills, led by Snow’s teammates, helped the athletes improve their catching, running and coordination skills.

Colts Players who joined Snow at the clinic included: QB Josh Betts, LB Rocky Boiman, TE Dallas Clark, TE Bryan Fletcher, OG Dylan Gandy, DB Matt Giordano, LB Freddy Keiaho, RB Luke Lawton, DE Robert Mathis, TE Gijon Robinson, DB T.J. Rushing, P Hunter Smith, TE Ben Utecht and K Adam Vinatieri.

Special Olympic cheerleaders also participated in a cheerleading clinic that evening, taught by members of the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleading Squad.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Day of Play
On Tuesday, Colts players celebrated Worldwide Day of Play by visiting a Big Blue Football Camp and touring the NCAA Hall of Champions with Special Olympic Athletes.

In the morning, Colts QB Josh Betts and WR Jemalle Cornelius headed south to VO Isom Central Elementary School in Greenwood, Ind. to help out at a Big Blue Football Camp (BBFC). BBFC’s were started by the Colts as a grassroots effort to provide free football camps to Indiana elementary schools. Every year, the Colts host numerous BBFC, promoting health and fitness, and providing a fun and safe environment for youth to learn more about the game of football.

During Tuesday’s visit, Betts and Cornelius helped instruct the students as they participated in the various football drills at the camp.

Later that day, Colts DB Michael Coe, DB Dante Hughes and LS Justin Snow hosted five Special Olympics athletes at the NCAA Hall of Champions. This visit was part of an official send-off for these athletes, who have been selected to represent Indiana in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Asia.

A Trip to the Farm
While the Colts players were busy participating in the Worldwide Day of Play, the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization (ICWO) was loading up a school bus at Auntie Mame’s Child Development Center to take 40 four and five-year-olds on a trip to the farm.

After a forty-five minute trip out to Wonder Hill Farm in Quincy, Ind., the youngsters got a hands-on experience that they are sure to remember. From petting baby goats to feeding llamas, the trip proved to be a fun and eye-opening experience for the children, many of whom had never been on a farm prior.

Coach Dungy Honored
Tuesday evening, Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy was inducted into the Dads Inc. Fatherhood Hall of Fame at their inaugural induction dinner. Dads Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides education and support to Central Indiana fathers. For more information, visit www.dadsinc.org.