A Franklin native and Indianapolis Colts cheerleader is leaving her mark on and off the field.
Lori Stanley was recently named Colts Woman of the Year for her community service work.
The title is awarded annually to the cheerleader from the 26-member squad who makes the biggest impact off the field with volunteer work. Fellow Colts cheerleaders chose Stanley for the award, Cheerleading Director Kelly Tilley told her about the honor before the game against the New York Giants on Dec. 23.
Stanley’s involvement in volunteer work started when she was just a little girl growing up in Franklin.
“We have a really strong community-based town,” Stanley said. “Growing up, I was very involved in the church and took after my parents who were involved in the food pantry and random acts of kindness in the community. When I became an adult, I found my own way and took after what I’d learned from my parents to bring to my community.”
Stanley, who moved to Carmel after graduating from Ball State University, is a pediatric nurse at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, where cheerleaders, including Stanley, will dress up as superheroes for patients during occasional volunteer opportunities.
Stanley volunteers at the Day Spring Center in downtown Indianapolis, where she helps homeless families. She has also helped distribute backpacks to foster children through the Colts organization and helped build playgrounds for various schools.
As someone who’s living with Crohn’s Disease, she is also involved with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and has raised awareness and money to help find a cure for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
“Kelly (Tilley) read some of the notes my teammates said about me,” Stanley said. “It’s very humbling to hear what everyone thought about me.”
