Cargo Services Inc. received an official nod from the State of Indiana Executive Department for its community service receiving a proclamation from Governor Mitch Daniels for contributions and efforts related to the statewide Books for Youth program.
Cargo Services has sponsored the Books for Youth program since 2007. The program, operated by the Indiana Department of Child Services and Indianapolis Colts, provides 25 age-appropriate books in a Colts backpack to Hoosier foster children. Cargo Services partners with statewide client companies that act as backpack distribution centers. The events typically include about 30 to 40 foster families who enjoy meeting Colts mascot Blue, touring the Colts In Motion travelling museum and receiving their books. Over the last five years foster children from Michigan City to Evansville, Fort Wayne to Indianapolis and Anderson to South Bend have participated in the programs.
“At any given time, there are 10,000 children in Indiana’s foster care system,” says Steve Fugate, Cargo Services CFO. “These children, ranging in age from newborns to teenagers, often have very little to call their own. The books and backpacks make a difference. It’s a small way our Cargo Services team gets to give back to the city and state.”
The Books for Youth program was officially launched in 2006 through a partnership between the Indianapolis Colts and DCS. The statewide initiative was created after Steve Pemberton, a former foster child, shared his story of personal triumph over situational tragedy crediting a gift from a stranger – a box of books – as his motivation to overcome challenges and provide hope for his future.
"Cargo Services joined the Books for Youth program in 2009 and their title sponsorship of the program has allowed the impact to very quickly spread statewide where they have personally placed more than 500 backpacks into the hands of foster children. Each backpack is filled with 25 age appropriate books – supporting not only the lifelong skill of reading, but encouraging the learning, dreaming and inspiration that comes from books." John P. Ryan, Director, Indiana Department of Child Services.