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Indianapolis Colts hosts graduation party for students in foster care

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Indianapolis Colts hosts graduation party for students in foster care


INDIANAPOLIS — Graduation is a time to celebrate and honor years of hard work and dedication. It is a memorable milestone that can sometimes be tough for those who are without loved ones to share the accomplishment with.

The Indianapolis Colts, along with Cargo Services and Meijer hoped to fill that gap for some, honoring foster care high school grads.

WRTV

“I’m here today because of how bad I wanted to be here. I say that because of how badly I wanted to graduate. How badly I wanted to be the first one to graduate. I’m the first one out of four generations to graduate high school,” Patrick Collier, Colts Foster Care graduate said.

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Collier spent most of his life in and out of the foster care system.

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“It hasn’t been perfect. It hasn’t been an easy road, and it hasn’t been something I shy away from,” Collier said.

At the age of 13, he met Kareem Hines with New Boy, an organization he says helped him push through his situation.

RELATED | Youth sports league aims to empower boys and teens in Indianapolis

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Youth sports league aims to empower boys and teens in Indianapolis

“He’s like a father to me. I never had a father figure in my life. I looked up to my older brother to be that because I wanted him to be that, but life happens,” Collier said.

Collier said his case worker nominated him and his peers voted him into the Colts foster care graduate class, allowing his path to cross General Manager Chris Ballard and his wife Kristin.

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The Ballards started this foster care graduation in 2016 with just four graduates, now they average more than 20 grads a year with a long waiting list.

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WRTV

“With the challenges they have to overcome and all the things they have to do they actually get to celebrate something in the end,” Kristin said.

The Ballards became foster parents in 2010, eventually adopting two of their foster children.

“It’s not their fault. They got born into a situation that just wasn’t advantageous for them so for them to be at this moment where they’re graduating in a few of them going on to college some of them on the trade school from on the job there’s nothing that’s going to be put in their way between that had they haven’t already overcome,” Chris said.

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“One thing I hope that these kids walk out with tonight is, you’re not in this alone,” Steve Fugate, Owner of Cargo Services said.

“That’s why I go hard with my nonprofit, that’s why I go hard being a junior mentor, that’s why I wanted to graduate early. That’s why I’m going to college, I’m not stopping at graduating, that’s what I want,” Collier said.

Collier said he’s going to take a gap year because he wants to take some time and do something for himself, but he says he wants to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and has his eyes set on Central State University.





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Indianapolis, IN

Neighbors call for change to intersection following multiple fatal crashes

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Neighbors call for change to intersection following multiple fatal crashes


INDIANAPOLIS — Neighbors and business owners are calling for changes to an east side intersection after two fatal crashes in less than a month.

“There is no stop here on mass and people just fly around this corner and people are just jumping to get out of this left turn here so it never stops,” Will Woodrow with 5108 studios said.

Woodrow said he put up cameras outside his business to catch wrecks. “I set one of my cameras up facing this intersection to catch the wrecks and there are probably one a week,” Woodrow added.

Most recently, police say 20-year-oldDeondrey Pirtle was killed on Saturday when his car crashed into in a parked semi-truck near the intersection.

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Then on July 12th police say 31-year-old Ivan Castro was killed in a hit and run. Surveillance video captures the moments the collision happens.

WATCH | Family seeks justice in deadly hit and run

Family seeks justice in deadly hit and run

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“Nobody has to die before something gets done – but they have,” concerned neighbor Melinda Harritt told WRTV on Monday.

Councilor Ron Gibson represents the people of this area. He says it will take a concentrated effort to cut down on the number of wrecks.

“The fact of the matter is that people are driving too fast all over the city,” Councilor Gibson (D) District 8 said.

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works conducted a traffic study of the area within the past year. It found nearly 11 thousand people drive through there each day.





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Indianapolis, IN

IPS to host vaccine clinic for students and families

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IPS to host vaccine clinic for students and families


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Students and families in Indianapolis are encouraged to attend an immunization clinic next week.

The Indianapolis Public Schools district is hosting the clinic on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Shepherd Community Center on East Washington Street. It will be held from 4:30- 8 p.m. 

Walk-ins are welcome, however, people are asked to complete the online registration form, use the enrollment code: IN65942, and select Shepherd Community-8/15/24.

People under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian consent. You are also asked to upload or send the immunization records for the person getting vaccinated and bring insurance cards.

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Organizers say all insurance types will be accepted and billed (commercial, Medicare, Medicaid). For people without insurance, there is no cost for vaccines – except for the Shingles and adult RSV vaccines, which may require a co-pay.

According to IPS, all CDC-recommended vaccines will be provided. If you wish to refuse a specific vaccine, please contact the Indiana Immunization Coalition at least 48 hours before the event at clinic@vaccinateindiana.org.



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Indianapolis, IN

Colts QB Anthony Richardson reacts to being featured on the JW Marriott Indianapolis

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Colts QB Anthony Richardson reacts to being featured on the JW Marriott Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — JW Marriott Indianapolis is known for making sports “larger than life.”

For instance, the hotel has featured a large March Madness bracket on its windows in the past. Most recently, it featured an image of Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark in a Gatorade ad.

This past week, the hotel put a new image on the east windows of its building. The image features three members of the Indianapolis Colts, quarterback Anthony Richardson, running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff asked Richardson about the image on Friday after the team’s training camp practice in Westfield, Ind.

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“That’s definitely cool,” Richardson said. “I appreciate the city embracing me. It means a lot to me and lets me know I’m doing something right. I got a lot of support behind me. So, I’m thankful for it.”

The north window features the phrase “For The Shoe,” the official hashtag of the Colts on X, formally known as Twitter.

Richardson is gearing up for his second season as the Colts starting quarterback. Last year, his rookie season was cut short after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in October.

He’s back healthy and ready to play a full 2024 season.

“It’s definitely easier to manage our offense now,” Richardson said. “I’m a lot more comfortable, a lot more comfortable with the calls when Shane (Steichen) is calling them. Then just looking at a defense, I’m able to scan the defense a lot longer and just check out what I’m going to have on a certain play. So I’m definitely a lot more comfortable in the offense, and I want to plan on continuing to get more comfortable in it.”

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The Colts continue training camp on Monday when they practice from 2 p.m. EDT to 3:30 p.m. EDT at Grand Park.

The team’s first preseason game is just one week away when it hosts the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. EDT inside Lucas Oil Stadium.



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