Irsay Family Makes Major Gift to 'For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign' in Support of IU Athletics Excellence Academy
4/19/2017 8:59:00 AM | General, Varsity Club, Student-Athlete Services
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Athletics announced today a major gift from the Irsay Family in support of the IU Athletics Excellence Academy being constructed in the south end zone of Memorial Stadium. In recognition of their significant contribution headed by IU Varsity Club Board member and alumna Kalen Jackson, an integral space within the Excellence Academy will be named the Irsay Family Wellness Clinic. The official Excellence Academy groundbreaking ceremony is set for later this month.
The Indiana University Excellence Academy is the foundation of IU Athletics' promise to its students. It will offer them comprehensive support with the use of cutting-edge technology; protect their health, safety and wellness; maximize their athletic potential; help them develop leadership and life skills; and build a culture of trust and respect. The academy is a living embodiment of IU's Student-Athlete Bill of Rights – an environment where IU Athletics can serve its scholars in mind, body and spirit, while preparing them to be successful in life outside the university.
The Irsay Family Wellness Clinic will aid in the physical and mental well-being of the nearly 650 students that participate in 24 varsity sports at Indiana. It will house exam rooms, x-ray machines, procedure rooms, physician offices, sports psychologist offices, a nutrition office and a consultation room.
"We are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of Kalen Jackson and her family, whose major gift to the Excellence Academy will establish the Irsay Family Wellness Center," IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass said. "The gift will touch the lives of countless students who participate in intercollegiate athletics for generations to come. The clinic will provide the workspace and technology to ensure that our students are well in mind, body and spirit. We cannot thank Kalen and the Irsay family enough for their commitment to the health and well-being of our students."
Kalen, vice chair/owner of the Indianapolis Colts, is a 2010 graduate of Indiana University's School of Public Health with a bachelor's degree in sports management and marketing. She is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women's Organization and has also represented the team at NFL Owners Meetings. In August of 2016, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell added Kalen to the league's Employee Benefits Committee. As the youngest member of the committee, she is responsible for administering club and league benefit plans, including plan design and amendment, benefit and administrative expense payments and employee eligibility issues. Kalen also serves on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana.
"I am so proud to say that I went to IU. It's wonderful to be accessible to my university and feel like I'm able to help, since they were instrumental in shaping who I am both personally and professionally," Jackson said. "They're continually looking at how to make things better for the student-athlete as a whole, and the Excellence Academy is a perfect example of that. I'm thankful that my dad believes in my passion for IU and that he knows how important IU is to me, because I obviously couldn't do it without his support."
The youngest daughter to Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay, Kalen joined the franchise in June of 2010 and represents the next generation of Colts ownership with her sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt (2005 IU alumna). Kalen has been a board member for the IU Varsity Club since 2016. She resides in Indianapolis with her husband and Indiana University alumnus, Boyd Jackson.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.
The Indiana University Excellence Academy is the foundation of IU Athletics' promise to its students. It will offer them comprehensive support with the use of cutting-edge technology; protect their health, safety and wellness; maximize their athletic potential; help them develop leadership and life skills; and build a culture of trust and respect. The academy is a living embodiment of IU's Student-Athlete Bill of Rights – an environment where IU Athletics can serve its scholars in mind, body and spirit, while preparing them to be successful in life outside the university.
The Irsay Family Wellness Clinic will aid in the physical and mental well-being of the nearly 650 students that participate in 24 varsity sports at Indiana. It will house exam rooms, x-ray machines, procedure rooms, physician offices, sports psychologist offices, a nutrition office and a consultation room.
"We are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of Kalen Jackson and her family, whose major gift to the Excellence Academy will establish the Irsay Family Wellness Center," IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass said. "The gift will touch the lives of countless students who participate in intercollegiate athletics for generations to come. The clinic will provide the workspace and technology to ensure that our students are well in mind, body and spirit. We cannot thank Kalen and the Irsay family enough for their commitment to the health and well-being of our students."
Kalen, vice chair/owner of the Indianapolis Colts, is a 2010 graduate of Indiana University's School of Public Health with a bachelor's degree in sports management and marketing. She is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women's Organization and has also represented the team at NFL Owners Meetings. In August of 2016, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell added Kalen to the league's Employee Benefits Committee. As the youngest member of the committee, she is responsible for administering club and league benefit plans, including plan design and amendment, benefit and administrative expense payments and employee eligibility issues. Kalen also serves on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana.
"I am so proud to say that I went to IU. It's wonderful to be accessible to my university and feel like I'm able to help, since they were instrumental in shaping who I am both personally and professionally," Jackson said. "They're continually looking at how to make things better for the student-athlete as a whole, and the Excellence Academy is a perfect example of that. I'm thankful that my dad believes in my passion for IU and that he knows how important IU is to me, because I obviously couldn't do it without his support."
The youngest daughter to Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay, Kalen joined the franchise in June of 2010 and represents the next generation of Colts ownership with her sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt (2005 IU alumna). Kalen has been a board member for the IU Varsity Club since 2016. She resides in Indianapolis with her husband and Indiana University alumnus, Boyd Jackson.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.
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