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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indianapolis Colts are among four finalists for the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award for their Kicking the Stigma initiative, which has committed more than $31 million to raise awareness about mental health disorders and expand access to treatment.
ESPN announced the finalists for the 11th annual awards on Tuesday.
The Sports Humanitarian Awards, presented annually by ESPN as part of ESPYS Week, honor athletes, teams, leagues and members of the sports industry for making a positive impact on society. This year’s awards ceremony will take place July 15 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood, California, the evening before the ESPYS.
ESPN said the Colts are the first major sports franchise to launch a sweeping initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and fight the associated stigmas. The initiative has awarded more than $6.4 million in grants to over 60 organizations and helped establish the Irsay Institute at Indiana University—a national research center focused on mental health stigma.
The Kicking the Stigma initiative was started by late Colts owner Jim Irsay and his family in 2020. Kalen Jackson, one of Irsay’s daughters and a co-owner of the team, spoke in-depth about the effort on an episode of the IBJ Podcast in 2022 (see below).
Other finalists in the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year category are the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Yankees.
The Clippers and Kings were chosen for their humanitarian efforts in the wake of the devastating wildfires that swept through Southern California this year.
The Yankees were picked for their HOPE Week initiative (HOPE stands for Helping Others Persevere & Excel), which it has conducted annually since 2009 to get players, staff and owners involved in community causes.
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The nomination is well-deserved.