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New Partnership to Promote Student Volunteerism in Indiana Indianapolis Colts, American Family Insurance,
Department of Education
With students across Indiana headed back to school, the Indianapolis Colts, American Family Insurance and the Indiana Department of Education are teaming up to encourage more Hoosier youth to become active volunteers in their communities this fall. Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed, Colts President Bill Polian, and American Family Insurance Sales Director Todd Fancher, today joined local educators and students to officially launch the new Young Playmakers Challenge program during a State House press conference. “More than 30,000 K-12 students helped meet real community needs while building character last year through our Learn and Serve Indiana programs, but there is still work to be done,” Dr. Reed said. “The Young Playmakers Challenge is another opportunity for Hoosier students to practice good citizenship, and we’re excited to have the Colts and American Family Insurance step forward to support these efforts.” Through the new Young Playmakers Challenge program, Indiana middle school students will be asked to volunteer in their local communities and track their service hours this fall. The classroom with the highest average number of volunteer hours per student will receive a visit from a Colts player in December. “This is an exciting opportunity for the Colts to continue our ‘Join The Team’ initiative promoting volunteerism among our fans,” said Bill Polian, Colts President. “We look forward to working with American Family Insurance and the Department of Education to encourage students across Indiana to be active members of their communities.” American Family Insurance will provide two (2) Colts tickets to each of the ten (10) students throughout Indiana who have the highest number of volunteer hours. In addition, the teacher and principal of the classroom with the highest average number of volunteer hours per student will each receive two (2) tickets to the Colts Monday Night Football Game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 18. “American Family Insurance is proud to partner with the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Department of Education to promote volunteerism among youth throughout the State of Indiana,” said Todd Fancher, Indiana Sales Director for American Family Insurance. “We believe the Young Playmakers Challenge will serve as a great program to help foster that volunteerism and community service, and we encourage middle school students from across the state to get involved.” Schools interested in participating in this statewide program should visit the community section of www.colts.com for more information. The “opt-in” deadline for schools to participate is September 8, 2006. The Young Playmakers Challenge is part of an ongoing effort by the Indianapolis Colts to promote volunteerism and community service throughout Indiana. Each year, Colts players, coaches, cheerleaders, and staff members demonstrate their continued community support by donating hundreds of hours of their time to service projects and initiatives. In addition to the new Young Playmakers Challenge, the event highlighted other Colts educational programs available to schools this year designed to promote community service, the arts, health, and fitness. See the attached sheet, visit www.colts.com, or e-mail the Colts Community Relations Department at jointheteam@colts.nfl.net for details. For more information on the Department of Education’s Learn and Serve Indiana programs, visit www.doe.in.gov/opd/srvlrn.
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Indiana Department of Education |
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