Child throwing a pass to a Colt player
inside the Colts inflatable

Sullair is a proud supporter of the “Books for Youth” event

At any given time, more than 10,000 children across Indiana find themselves in a foster-care environment. Unfortunately, some of them have not established permanency and will move from one foster home to another. As they do, few of them receive personal items they can retain. However, organizations such as the Indiana Department of Child Services, the Indianapolis Colts and Cargo Services, Inc. have been working together to give every foster child in Indiana something to call their own by providing backpacks filled with books. Each backpack contains 25 age-appropriate books that can nurture a desire to read, uplift spirits and open their minds to the world around them.

Forty-two local foster-care youth were presented backpacks filled with books and treated to a “super” day! In early July, Sullair Corporation was proud to host the 2011 “Books for Youth” program for LaPorte County. During the day, 42 foster children were each presented with a Colts Blue backpack filled with 25 books suited to their ages, presented by the Indianapolis Colts, the Indiana Department of Child Services and Cargo Services, Inc. Each child and their foster family were also treated to a tour of the Colts in Motion traveling museum and received autographs from the Colts cheerleaders as well as an opportunity to have photographs taken with the Super Bowl trophy.

The children also had a chance to throw a pass to a Colt player inside a giant inflatable. As part of the program, the group saw a presentation of Colt’s Blue PRIDE, a 45-minute educational show based on the acronym P-R-I-D-E to teach the children about the importance of Physical Fitness, Respect, Intelligent Decisions, a Healthy Diet and Education.

Sharing the gift of reading

Supporting organizations, such as Sullair, agree that the “Books for Youth” program not only encourages the gift of reading for foster-care youth, but also supports improvement in self-esteem and the confidence to pursue a fulfilling and productive lifestyle. “I am delighted that Sullair and our employees were given an opportunity to support our community by our participation in the ‘Books for Youth’ program,” said Henry Brooks, President of Sullair. “For the children in this program, reading can enrich their lives and play a role in their social and emotional development. It is the key to unlocking their future success. I salute our employees for their involvement with the program and thank each of them for being so generous with their time and energy in the service of others. Their personal rewards of being a volunteer make our employees far greater individuals and that, in turn, makes us a better company. The volunteer work they perform can truly change a life.”