section_path: Philanthropy
section_name: Philanthropy
paragraph_text: Philanthropy
  
  Irsay and his family donated to various projects and programs across Indiana, including the Irsay Family YMCA, the downtown Indianapolis Colts Canal Playspace, Riley Hospital for Children, Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children, and Indiana University's Irsay Research Institute.
  
  On November 20, 2022, Irsay donated $1 million to the Indianapolis Zoo. The gift alowed for a renovation project and a new Indianapolis Colts Welcome Center Plaza, that was completed on Memorial Day of 2023.
  
  In late 2020, the Irsay family launched Kicking The Stigma, which is dedicated to "raise awareness about mental health disorders and to remove the shame and stigma too often associated with these illnesses." The foundation has numerous partner organizations, including Mental Health America of Indiana, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Indianapolis, Project Healthy Minds, and Bring Change to Mind. As of late 2022, Kicking The Stigma had committed more than $17 million (through action grants and personal donations by the Irsay family) towards its initiatives. In 2022, a total of $1.4 million in action grants were distributed to 23 nonprofits and organizations in the mental health sector. In 2021, the action grants totaled $2.7 million and were gifted to 16 groups.
  
  In December 2021, the Irsay family donated $3 million to Indiana University to create a research institute dedicated to studying mental health and the stigma associated with it. The donation was an extension of Kicking The Stigma. Named the Irsay Family Research Institute, the center is located on IU's Bloomington campus in Morrison Hall. The center's foci include providing support for research, analyzing sociomedical sciences, encouraging more students to train in the mental health field, and promoting mental health both locally and nationally.
  
  Irsay was a staunch supporter of former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, who beat acute promyelocytic leukemia after being diagnosed in September 2012. Pagano, who was head coach of the team from 2012 to 2017, hosts his Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala every year in Indianapolis. Since 2012, the galas have raised more than $12 million for research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, where Pagano received treatment. The gala has been hosted at the Colts' Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center as well as at Jim Irsay's house. In 2021, Irsay hosted the gala at his home and donated $2 million to the IU cancer research after Pagano made a free throw for $1 million and 10 layups for $100,000 apiece on Irsay's basketball court.
  
  On March 30, 2023, the Miami Seaquarium announced that Lolita, the park's sole captive orca, would be returned to her natal waters in the Pacific Northwest. Irsay was involved in bankrolling the funds necessary to relocate and release Lolita and her pacific white-sided dolphin companions, Li'i and Loke. The process of moving the animals took between 18 and 24 months and cost an estimated $15–20 million, the majority of which was provided by Irsay. Lolita died on August 18, 2023, before this could be accomplished.
  
  Irsay and his family donated to various projects and programs across Indiana, including the Irsay Family YMCA, the downtown Indianapolis Colts Canal Playspace, Riley Hospital for Children, Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children, and Indiana University's Irsay Research Institute.
  
  On November 20, 2022, Irsay donated $1 million to the Indianapolis Zoo. The gift alowed for a renovation project and a new Indianapolis Colts Welcome Center Plaza, that was completed on Memorial Day of 2023.
  
  In late 2020, the Irsay family launched Kicking The Stigma, which is dedicated to "raise awareness about mental health disorders and to remove the shame and stigma too often associated with these illnesses." The foundation has numerous partner organizations, including Mental Health America of Indiana, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Indianapolis, Project Healthy Minds, and Bring Change to Mind. As of late 2022, Kicking The Stigma had committed more than $17 million (through action grants and personal donations by the Irsay family) towards its initiatives. In 2022, a total of $1.4 million in action grants were distributed to 23 nonprofits and organizations in the mental health sector. In 2021, the action grants totaled $2.7 million and were gifted to 16 groups.
  
  In December 2021, the Irsay family donated $3 million to Indiana University to create a research institute dedicated to studying mental health and the stigma associated with it. The donation was an extension of Kicking The Stigma. Named the Irsay Family Research Institute, the center is located on IU's Bloomington campus in Morrison Hall. The center's foci include providing support for research, analyzing sociomedical sciences, encouraging more students to train in the mental health field, and promoting mental health both locally and nationally.
  
  Irsay was a staunch supporter of former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, who beat acute promyelocytic leukemia after being diagnosed in September 2012. Pagano, who was head coach of the team from 2012 to 2017, hosts his Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala every year in Indianapolis. Since 2012, the galas have raised more than $12 million for research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, where Pagano received treatment. The gala has been hosted at the Colts' Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center as well as at Jim Irsay's house. In 2021, Irsay hosted the gala at his home and donated $2 million to the IU cancer research after Pagano made a free throw for $1 million and 10 layups for $100,000 apiece on Irsay's basketball court.
  
  On March 30, 2023, the Miami Seaquarium announced that Lolita, the park's sole captive orca, would be returned to her natal waters in the Pacific Northwest. Irsay was involved in bankrolling the funds necessary to relocate and release Lolita and her pacific white-sided dolphin companions, Li'i and Loke. The process of moving the animals took between 18 and 24 months and cost an estimated $15–20 million, the majority of which was provided by Irsay. Lolita died on August 18, 2023, before this could be accomplished.