Organizers fete thousands of volunteers for help with Super Bowl
Volunteers for Super Bowl XLVI received the red-carpet treatment in a Downtown event Wednesday.
They heard live music, pep talks and appreciation for their efforts from celebrities and dignitaries in a volunteer kickoff event in Conseco Fieldhouse. And a National Football League official told them they have the "opportunity to really demonstrate what Hoosier hospitality is all about" when the big game comes to town Feb. 5.
Frank Supovitz, NFL senior vice president of events, said of Indianapolis, "You count as a city that knows how to do things right."
In the past, the city has successfully hosted many major sporting events, including the 1987 Pan American Games, NCAA men's and women's Final Four basketball championships, and the annual Indianapolis 500.
Volunteer spirit
More than 2,000 volunteers attended Wednesday evening's kickoff, greeted by the Circle City Stompers in the lobby; singers Dave and Rae near the court; and gospel singer Sandi Patty, who wrapped up the night's festivities.
Organizers applauded the volunteer spirit of metro-area residents.
The 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee received 16,000 applications from people who wanted to be volunteers, including 10,000 of them by April 2010, said Dianna L. Boyce, the committee's spokeswoman.
About 8,000 volunteers will be used, with 5,000 on reserve in case they are needed, said Boyce, who added that 3,000 additional volunteers are on a waiting list.
Already, volunteers have logged 37,500 hours in preparation work, helping out 60 committees preparing for Super Bowl XLVI to be held in Lucas Oil Stadium. By game time, it is estimated that volunteers will have contributed 150,000 hours doing things such as greeting game visitors at airports and helping visitors find Downtown sites.
Great at greeting
Those in attendance Wednesday night saw the names of all the volunteers rotating on the slim ribbon board just below the highest level of seating at the fieldhouse. When the program began with the appearance of a Marine Corps color guard and the singing of the national anthem by Seymour native Katie Stam, Miss America for 2009, the ribbon board switched to a depiction of a waving American flag.
Southside residents Fred and Judy Baldwin, who describe themselves as season-ticket-holding Indianapolis Colts fans and promoters of Indianapolis and its Downtown, were in the crowd Wednesday evening as just two of those volunteers.
"We are going to be 'street team running backs,' " said Fred, 57, an employee of Allison Transmission. He said that means they will be positioned Downtown to help people find venues.
"We like to have fun. We come Downtown all the time," said Judy, 50, who works Downtown at Old National Bank. Her husband added, "We love talking to people from out of town."
Worthy of applause
Celebrities at the volunteer kickoff included Indianapolis native Mike Epps, an actor and comedian who served as emcee for the event, as well as local dignitaries, such as Mayor Greg Ballard.
However, a standing ovation was reserved for Traci Runge, 42.
The Carmel resident was the first donor of healthy breast tissue to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center, and she later was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The first season-long breast cancer tissue campaign is being tied to the upcoming Super Bowl to boost the bank, the only repository of healthy breast tissue in the world. The NFL also dedicates each October to promoting breast cancer awareness.
