As an Indianapolis native, Deonna Wray grew up coming to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. She volunteered with DREAM Alive, a nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of youth poverty.
Monday, Wray returned. This time, to help and watch the construction of her home at the Colts 14th Annual Habitat for Humanity Panel Build sponsored in part by Everwise Credit Union and Benge's Hardware.
"I feel like it's good karma," Wray said. "It's God giving me back my blessings for blessing others."
Wray's home is one of 40 being built by Habitat for Humanity in Indianapolis this year. The partnership between Habitat and the Colts is fostered through hope and dedication to helping the community.
"We're grateful to have had 14 years building homes and hope with these amazing coaches, staff and players," Habitat VP of development and communications Abri Hochstetler said. "It's a testament to everyone involved that the Colts think affordable housing is important in our community and they're showing up."
Over 100 volunteers showed up to assist with the build, including Colts players, coaches and front office staff.
"Mr. Irsay gave back to the community, and Carlie (Irsay-Gordon), Kalen (Jackson) and Casey (Foyt) have continued that on," general manager Chris Ballard said. "They have the same vision, so to watch our organization be a part of this has always been special."
The Indianapolis Colts hosted their 14th annual Habitat for Humanity Panel Build with Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity. Joined by volunteers from Everwise Credit Union and Benge's Hardware, they partnered to construct key parts of a home that will soon give a local family a fresh start as first-time homeowners.
Shane Steichen Head Coach and Chris Ballard General Manager
Chris Ballard General Manager
Tom Manning - Tight Ends, Chris Hewitt Defensive Backs & Passing Game Coordinator and Jerome Henderson Defensive Backs Coach
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Shane Steichen Head Coach and Chris Ballard General Manager
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Jon Shaw - Director of Pro Personnel, Andrew Hoyle - Pro Personnel Scout, Danny Dowell - Football Systems Developer, Jerome Henderson Defensive Backs Coach, Matt Conti Vice President of Football Communications, Chris Watt Assistant Offensive Line and Tom Manning - Tight Ends
Brent Stockstill - Offensive Quality Control, Cam Turner - Quarterbacks, Pete Ward COO, Diego Ortiz - Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow, Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers, Kasia Omilian - West Area Scout, Alex Tanney - Passing Game Coordinator and Sean Welch - Director of Football Information Systems
Brent Stockstill Defensive Assistant, Cam Turner - Quarterbacks, Pete Ward COO, Diego Ortiz - Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow, Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers, Kasia Omilian - West Area Scout, Alex Tanney - Passing Game Coordinator and Sean Welch - Director of Football Information Systems
Cato June - Assistant Linebackers
Skylar Hillmann - Scouting Assistant and Chris Hewitt - Pass Game Coordinator / Secondary Coach
Skylar Hillmann - Scouting Assistant and Chris Hewitt Defensive Backs & Passing Game Coordinator
Chris Hewitt Defensive Backs & Passing Game Coordinator, Cato June - Assistant Linebackers, Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator, Mitch Chester - College Scouting Coordinator, Greg Starek - Director of Football Analytics and Skylar Hillmann - Scouting Assistant
Chris Hewitt Defensive Backs & Passing Game Coordinator, Cato June - Assistant Linebackers, Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator, Mitch Chester - College Scouting Coordinator, Greg Starek - Director of Football Analytics and Skylar Hillmann - Scouting Assistant
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Chris Ballard General Manager
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Diego Ortiz - Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow and Alex Tanney - Passing Game Coordinator
Greg Starek - Director of Football Analytics
Tanner Chastain - NFS Scout
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Shane Steichen Head Coach
Andy Schwartz Sr. - Corporate Partnership Executive and TJ Ingels Assistant to the Head Coach
Jim Bob Cooter Offensive Coordinator and Brian Mason Special Teams Coordinator
Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator
Andy Schwartz Sr. - Corporate Partnership Executive
Chris Ballard General Manager
Chris Ballard General Manager
Chris Ballard General Manager
Jerome Henderson Defensive Backs Coach
Kristin Ballard
Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator
Jerome Henderson Defensive Backs Coach
Matt Conti Vice President of Football Communications
Sean Welch - Director of Football Information Systems and Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Sean Welch - Director of Football Information Systems and Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Skylar Hillmann - Scouting Assistant
Chris Ballard General Manager
Jim Bob Cooter Offensive Coordinator
Chris Ballard General Manager
Shane Steichen Head Coach and Tony Sparano Jr. Offensive Line
Shane Steichen Head Coach and Tony Sparano Jr. Offensive Line
Shane Steichen Head Coach
TJ Ingels Assistant to the Head Coach
Maggie Evers - Football Communications Assistant
Pete Ward COO
Pete Ward COO
Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator
Tony Sparano Jr. Offensive Line and Shane Steichen Head Coach
Tanner Chastain - NFS Scout
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Kasia Omilian - West Area Scout
DE Mitchell Melton #54, Marion Hobby - Defensive Line, DE Caden Curry #55 and RB Anderson Castle #42
LB Bryce Boettcher #50 and Mike Bluem - Director of Football Administration
DE George Gumbs Jr. #52
WR Eli Pancol #83 and WR Deion Burks #80
WR Laquon Treadwell #13
DE Caden Curry #55
For four years, head coach Shane Steichen and his coaching staff have shown up for the event. In yet a short amount of time, it has made an impact on Steichen.
"It changed a life to build hope for somebody in need," he said of the build. "To give back to the community means a ton."
Players can voluntarily sign up to help. The initial list of players attending had nine names. Around 20 players volunteered their time.
"Being a homeowner is something everyone aspires to be," offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini
said. "To help a family reach that goal today is a pretty cool moment."
After becoming a single mother to almost four-year-old Jakobi, Habitat came across Wray's Facebook. Something in her gut told her to apply, and it's been a breeze ever since.
Part of the buying process for a Habitat homebuyer are mandatory financial literacy and maintenance classes. The classes are provided to educate each buyer on what comes next.
"I didn't know much," Wray said about financial literacy. "I'm trying to break a lot of generational curses for my son."
When Wray moves into her home, she will be the first member of her family to own a house.
"Being a single mom, I was a little nervous," she said. "I was paying $1,400 in rent, and to know I'll be saving so much on paying for something that actually belongs to me feels so good."
