The nation might view Manning as a four-time MVP quarterback and pitchman for a number of products like Sprint, Sony, Mastercard, Gatorade, and DirectTV. But he’s more famous here for his work with organizations such as the Peyback Foundation he began as a rookie and has raised nearly $4 million to aid disadvantaged youths.
“He stays very connected,” said Elizabeth Ellis, CEO of the Foundation. “I’ve been e-mailing him this week because he wants to know what’s going on.”
There’s also the PeyBack Classic that features high school teams playing at Lucas Oil Stadium; and the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent. The hospital was renamed after Manning in September 2007 to highlight an association that began his rookie year.
“The thing that impresses me is there’s a personal involvement,” said Kevin Speer, the Senior VP and Chief Strategy Officer for St. Vincent Health. “It’s not just a name on the building. It’s amazing to watch the reaction the kids have to him and the influence he has with adults when he speaks. From our perspective, what Peyton has done off the field eclipses anything he’s done on the field.”
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