THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center raised nearly $1.2 million for cancer research at its fourth annual Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala.
Hosted by the Indianapolis Colts and head coach Chuck Pagano at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, the gala raised the funds through corporate sponsorships, live and silent auctions, and the annual Chuckstrong Giving Challenge. The total includes $250,000 given by the Jim Irsay family, and $50,000 from the coach and his wife, Tina.
The record-setting amount also included $30,000 raised from 25 people who paid $1,200 each for the chance to catch a touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Luck. In all, the Chuckstrong initiative has raised $3.7 million for cancer research at IU.
Top-level “touchdown” sponsors for the event were Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, DairyChem, the Efroymson Family Fund, Huntington Bank, Lilly Oncology, Sol and Kay Raso, the Throgmartin family, the IU Simon Cancer Center, the IU School of Medicine, and Indiana Knitwear.
