In an act of good will, two of Indiana's professional sports teams the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and the NBA's Indiana Pacers have decided to pledge funds to the struggling Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
The Los Angeles Times reported the owners of the Colts and the Pacers announced this week they have agreed to pledge $750,000 each to the financially stricken ensemble.
According to The Times, the pledges were made as part of the orchestra's fundraising campaign to raise $5 million before Feb. 3.
"Just like our Colts, every team can achieve success with a rallying cry from its fans and that time is now for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra," Jim Irsay, owner of the National Football League team, said in a news release.
Isray is a second generation NFL team owner, his father owned the Baltimore Colts before the team moved house to Indiana in 1984. Pacers owner Herb Simon is a successful real estate businessman who purchased the NBA team in 1983 along with his late brother Melvin.
"The orchestra has been embedded in our downtown, our schools, and our Hoosier communities for more than 82 years," Simon said in the same release.
Like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra, the Indianapolis ensemble has had a rough year. The orchestra saw performances come to a halt for several weeks this fall due to contractual issues with the musicians and its board.
The outfit began playing in October, but a new contract is reportedly contingent on making the fundraising goal.
According to The Times, the orchestra said in a statement Tuesday that it has so far raised nearly $2.4 million toward its goal.
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
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