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The Colts Influence
The Colts Influence
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Peyton Manning
PEYTON
MANNING "Laying the foundation for life long success." Founded in 1999 With his move to the NFL, Peyton established the PeyBack Foundation to help disadvantaged youth build a successful future for themselves. PeyBack accomplishes its mission through helping established community-based programs provide fundamental leadership and growth opportunities for kids. The PeyBack Foundation focuses its efforts in a three state region and has donated more than $900,000 to youth organizations in Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana since 1999. In 2004, the PeyBack Foundation distributed more than $150,000 in grants to 25 different community agencies in those states. Peyton not only supports the PeyBack Foundation financially, but is integral to ensuring its success. As President of the foundation, Peyton is active in all major decisions concerning its initiatives and constantly seeks new opportunities and organizations to further the success of the foundation. The most visible Foundation event is the PeyBack Classic. The event was established in 2002 and enabled all seven inner-city Indianapolis high school football teams to play in the RCA Dome. The school's struggling athletic programs received all the proceeds. The PeyBack Foundation distributed more than $160,000 to the schools. The schools received $42,000 in 2002, $70,000 in 2001, and $50,000 in 2000. In 2004, the Foundation selected four new schools for the 2004 event and will continue to provide opportunities for schools across Indiana. The PeyBack Foundation is responsible for all costs associated with the rental of the RCA Dome. Focus on Education: Peyton and the PeyBack Foundation joined forces with Vectren Corporation to institute the Bright Ideas grant program in 2003. In partnership with Vectren and the Indiana Department of Education, Bright Ideas offers up to $500 to individual teachers to assist with local educational needs. The program, which has awarded more than $50,000 the last two years, allows teachers the opportunity to apply for grants for special classroom projects. Along with his father, Archie, Peyton is actively involved with the Play it Smart organization, a school-based program primarily funded by the National Football Foundation. The program seeks to use the power of the football experience as a vehicle to enhance the academic, athletic, career and personal development of high school student-athletes. The PeyBack Foundation expanded the program in Indianapolis in 2002 by sponsoring two IPS schools. All five football-playing Indianapolis public high schools now have the benefit of an academic coach. Because of the PeyBack Foundation, Indianapolis became the first city in the nation to have all its public schools involved in Play It Smart initiatives. Play it Smart is currently in 88 schools in 55 cities and 30 states for the 2002-03 school year. The PeyBack Foundation instituted the Peyton's Pals program in 2003. The PeyBack Foundation worked with Child Advocates in Indianapolis to select 20 middle school kids to participate in the program. The Foundation sponsors a series of special events for 20 kids, with at least one event a month. The purpose of the program is to provide monthly outings and activities to benefit at-risk children chosen from the client population of Child Advocates. The events expose them to a variety of educational, cultural and community service activities throughout the year. Past events have included an overnight trip to Kings Island in Cincinnati, dinner at St. Elmo Steakhouse, a viewing of the Lion King at the Murat Theatre and a community project with Joy's House (Indianapolis Adult Daycare center) just to name a few. Focus on Special Events: For the fourth consecutive year, the PeyBack Foundation hosted more than 1,000 disadvantaged Indianapolis children for the PeyBack Holiday Celebration at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The special event included dinner, a visit from Santa, special Christmas presents from Peyton, and the opportunity to visit the nationally renowned museum. Also, the Foundation held holiday events in Knoxville and New Orleans for underprivileged children. The Foundation distributed numerous gifts, including a pair of Reebok shoes, to more than 150 children at the Greater Tennessee Boys & Girls Club. The Foundation hosted more than 200 students from Desire Street Academy in New Orleans in December. The students were transported to a local bookstore where they were able to choose a book and then returned to the school for a party that included distribution of Reebok shoes and other apparel. In 2003, the Foundation hosted holiday parties in December of 2003 for more than 500 kids in New Orleans at the Louisiana Children's Museum and in Knoxville, Tennessee at Celebration Station. The PeyBack Foundation hosted the, "Taking Care of Those in Need," event in 2004 with 600 needy families receiving a full meal courtesy of the Foundation. The meal included ham, potatoes, dinner rolls, soft drinks, pie and other items. In 2003, the PeyBack Foundation provided a Thanksgiving lunch to students and parents of IPS School 14-Washington Irving. More than 800 people, including 500 students, enjoyed a meal of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, cookies and much more on behalf of the PeyBack Foundation. Parents joined the children for lunch. Peyton played host to 100 Indianapolis foster children in 2002 at Jillian's restaurant in downtown Indianapolis to celebrate Thanksgiving. The event included bowling, dinner and a visit to the video arcade room. In 2001, the PeyBack Foundation played host to a Christmas celebration for 225 Indianapolis inner-city children at Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant. The Foundation also distributed more than 300 footballs and basketballs to various organizations for Christmas in 2001. In 2000, the Foundation played Santa to about 1,500 boys and girls who were in foster care or in residential treatment facilities during the holidays. As a special Christmas present, children at the Marion County's Children's Guardian Home, Pleasant Run Children's Home and residential facilities operated by Children's Bureau received a football or basketball from the PeyBack Foundation. The PeyBack Foundation has also provided support for several Boys & Girls Clubs in Indiana and Tennessee and the Dryades Street YMCA in New Orleans was the recipient of a $25,000 grant to restore its facilities in 2001. Focus on Well Being and Fun: The PeyBack Foundation Peyton's Pals Ticket Incentive Program makes it possible for disadvantaged children to attend Indianapolis Colts home games. The foundation carefully selects local community organizations to participate in the program. Each organization receives 50 tickets, a PeyBack Foundation T-shirt, and a voucher for a free meal at the RCA Dome concession stand. Peyton has hosted the inaugural PeyBack Bowl the last two years in Indianapolis. The event has raised more than $270,000 for the PeyBack Foundation. Manning and other celebrities hit the bowling lanes to raise money for underprivileged children in Indianapolis. Celebrities have included national recording artist Kenny Chesney, Indiana Pacers' Reggie Miller, legendary musician John Mellencamp, Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, Colts' players Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison, ESPN analyst Tom Jackson along with NBA players, IRL drivers, college basketball coaches and many more. For the last four years, Peyton has participated in the Marsh Holiday Handoff for Hunger community based food drive that benefited local food pantries. The program has generated more than 600,000 pounds of food for those in need. Each Indiana school that participated entered a drawing to win a visit from Peyton and tickets to a Colts game. Peyton, in conjunction with Marsh, held an event from 2001-2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to raise money for the PeyBack Foundation. The Marsh Kids' Club Walk, "Peyton's Rally at Gasoline Alley" gave kids an opportunity to walk around the track with Peyton. The event raised more than $40,000 for the Foundation. The PeyBack Foundation donates tickets to local foster care and residential treatment facilities to various sporting events and concerts in Indianapolis throughout the year. The PeyBack Foundation participated in the Coats for Kids campaign in 2000 and donated $5,000 to the program, which is designed to collect coats for children in need.
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