The Indianapolis Colts donated 5,000 sleep sacks for babies born at Ascension St. Vincent locations throughout Indiana on Nov. 21.
Wearable blankets, also known as sleep sacks, provide warmth and an encompassing sleep environment for infants.
Vice Chair of the Indianapolis Colts Kalen Jackson believes kids need sleep sacks to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
“The Colts are so pleased to help promote safe sleep for Hoosier kids, and this donation of sleep sacks is one way we can help new parents care for their infants in a safe manner,” Jackson said in a statement. “We’re also proud to partner with Ascension St. Vincent to continue promoting health and wellness for our friends, fans and neighbors across the state, and we look forward to more opportunities to do so.”
Outside of Indianapolis, Ascension St. Vincent locations in Anderson, Carmel, Evansville, Fishers, Kokomo and Randolph County also received sleep sack donations.
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Earlier this year, Ascension St. Vincent and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital was named the official healthcare partner of the Colts.
Vice President of Women and Pediatric Services at Ascension St. Vincent Julie Schnieders shared why sleep sacks are needed this time of year.
“Indiana’s sleep-related infant mortality rate is higher than the national average and continues to rise. It is an alarming stat, but these are preventable deaths,” Schneiders said in a statement. “Through our partnership with the Colts, we aim to address this urgent issue by educating parents on safe sleep practices. By providing tools like sleep sacks that replace hazardous, loose blankets in a crib, we can save young lives and increase positive outcomes for babies across Indiana.”
The Colts plan to donate more sleep sacks in 2025.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
