Mental Health Awareness Month: "Stronger Together"

The Indianapolis Colts hosted "Beyond the Sidelines," a fundraiser benefiting Kicking the Stigma, an initiative that raises awareness about mental health disorders and removes the stigma often associated with these illnesses.

The Colts participated in a joint service project with the Bears at the Grand Park Events Center. Players and coaches from each team built Kicking The Stigma Kits for elementary-aged children that promote kindness, provide stress-relieving activities, and raise awareness about the importance of being kind and wrote thank you notes for mental health professionals that will be delivered throughout the community on World Mental Health Day, October 10th.

At a kickoff event for the new Irsay Institute, IU President Pamela Whitten joined Kalen Jackson, vice chair and owner of the Indianapolis Colts, and Bernice Pescosolido, Distinguished Professor of Sociology in the IU College of Arts and Sciences and director of the institute, to celebrate the opening. The Irsay Institute, a new research institute at Indiana University in Morrison Hall on the IU Bloomington campus, has formally launched its mission to become a leading national center for addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness and other health issues such as HIV, epilepsy, cancer, dementia and addiction.

Beyond The Sidelines is the first in-person fundraiser event to benefit Kicking The Stigma, the Indianapolis Colts, and Irsay family initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the shame and stigma associated with these illnesses. Through the Beyond The Sidelines Event, the Irsay Family looks to grow Kicking The Stigma's impact on mental health awareness and treatment.

Funds raised go toward the Kicking The Stigma Action Grants, which support non-profits and organizations that raise awareness about mental health or provide mental health treatment services.

As a part of Mental Awareness Month, the Irsay Family along with Indianapolis Colts players and staff took part in a Find Your Anchor Boxing Event. As a part of the event, the team boxed 300 care boxes for the grassroots movement charity aimed at suicide prevention, awareness and education. To learn more about Find Your Anchor, visit, findyouranchor.us.

The Jim Irsay family and the Indianapolis Colts kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month in May by welcoming Julien's Auctions, the world-record breaking auction house to the stars, to Indianapolis with Kurt Cobain's iconic Fender guitar used in Nirvana's cultural defining Smells Like Teen Spirit music video.