Colts and Pacers Lead $250K Donation for Indiana Flood Relief Efforts

The Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers are each donating $125,000 to the American Red Cross to support Indiana flood relief after seven deaths were reported.

The Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers have each committed $125,000 to support Indiana flood relief efforts, totaling a $250,000 contribution to the American Red Cross. This joint financial pledge was announced on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 5:21 PM ET, just prior to the Colts' afternoon training camp session held at the Grand Park Sports Complex in suburban Indianapolis. The WNBA’s Indiana Fever and the Noblesville Boom of the G League also joined the initiative to assist the state during what has been described as some of the worst flooding in decades.

At least seven individuals have died and a significant number of residents remain displaced due to the natural disaster. The severity of the weather prompted President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration covering more than half of the 92 counties in Indiana. While the region experienced heavy rainfall throughout the week, including new downpours on Sunday morning, conditions shifted to sunny and hot by the time NFL players returned to the practice field at Grand Park.

Impact on Local Infrastructure and Residents

According to Terry Stigdon, CEO of the American Red Cross Indiana Region, the organization served 200 people on Saturday night alone. In recent days, relief workers have distributed more than 4,700 meals and snacks to those affected by the rising waters. The flooding has rendered several major thoroughfares impassable, including roads surrounding the Fashion Mall. Kalen Jackson, Colts co-owner, noted that the water was still "sloshing around" near the shopping center as recently as Sunday morning.

Jackson highlighted the personal nature of the crisis, mentioning that she had visited Conner Prairie earlier in the week before the conditions worsened. She observed that the flooding has impacted areas she frequented as a child and where her friends currently reside. The emergency has disrupted daily life across the state, leading to the mobilization of professional sports franchises to provide immediate capital for the Red Cross operations.

Professional Teams Coordinate Assistance

Rachel Simon, who serves as the chairwoman of the Pacers Foundation and is the daughter of team owner Herb Simon, emphasized the unique nature of the partnership between the NFL and NBA franchises. She stated that the ability to call a partner who immediately agrees to help is a testament to their shared care for the community. This collaboration between the city's professional teams is not the first instance of them uniting to support the state during a period of need.

Emergency Response and Weather Conditions

The emergency declaration issued by the federal government aims to streamline aid to the dozens of counties struggling with the aftermath of the storms. Despite the return of sunshine during the Colts' Sunday practice, the cumulative rainfall from the preceding week has left many areas submerged. The $250,000 in combined funds from the Colts and Pacers will go directly toward the American Red Cross to facilitate ongoing food service and shelter for the thousands of displaced Hoosiers.