Kalen Jackson, Owner of the Indianapolis Colts, to Receive Inaugural ‘Sports Visionary of the Year’ Award, Presented by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
Mental health advocate who leads the Colts’ groundbreaking “Kicking The Stigma” program to also serve as the Co-Chair of Project Healthy Minds’ first-ever “CHANGING THE GAME” initiative
New York – June 16, 2025 – Project Healthy Minds, a Millennial and Gen Z-driven mental health tech non-profit, is proud to announce Kalen Jackson, Owner and Chief Brand Officer of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts and President of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation, as the recipient of its first-ever “Sports Visionary of the Year” Award. The prestigious recognition will be presented by Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, at Project Healthy Minds’ third annual World Mental Health Day Gala taking place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at New York’s Starrett-Lehigh.
Jackson is being honored for her trailblazing leadership in mental health advocacy in sports through the Colts’ “Kicking The Stigma” initiative. A first-of-its-kind campaign in the NFL, the initiative is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, dismantling stigma, and expanding access to critical services across Indiana and nationwide. Under Jackson’s guidance, the initiative has distributed millions of dollars in grants and sparked national conversation around mental health in athletics.
Jackson, who currently serves on Project Healthy Minds’ esteemed Board of Directors, will take on an even greater leadership role as the inaugural Co-Chair of Project Healthy Minds' new “CHANGING THE GAME” initiative – a groundbreaking new program featuring leagues, teams, athletes, and media to tap into the power of sports to inspire fans to talk about mental health and expand access to life-changing mental health services.
“Kalen Jackson and the Indianapolis Colts are proof that when visionary leadership meets the power of sports, stigma doesn’t stand a chance,” said Phillip Schermer, Founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds. “Their ‘Kicking The Stigma’ playbook is the gold standard for how sports franchises can champion mental health, and we couldn’t imagine a more deserving inaugural honoree of the Project Healthy Minds ‘Sports Visionary of the Year’ award. We’re honored to celebrate her trailblazing work and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as we ‘change the game’ together.”
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the inaugural ‘Sports Visionary of the Year’ award from Project Healthy Minds,” said Jackson. “This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment of the incredible team behind ‘Kicking The Stigma,’ and we will continue this work to reshape the conversation around mental health. We’re proud to be a part of a movement that’s making real, lasting change, and treating mental health with the urgency and compassion it deserves.”
The World Mental Health Day Gala supports Project Healthy Minds’ mission to connect over 10 million Americans over the next 10 years with mental health services through its free digital mental health marketplace. The evening will feature moving storytelling, celebrity / artistic performances and award presentations. The festivities will be hosted by Project Healthy Minds Board of Directors member Carson Daly, co-host of NBC’s “TODAY” and host/producer of “The Voice.” Previous honorees and notable guests have included Demi Lovato, Chance The Rapper, Logic, Savannah Guthrie, Michael D. Ratner, Gail and Jeff Yabuki and more. Additional 2025 Gala award honorees and programming to be announced.
On Friday, October 10th, the day following the gala, Project Healthy Minds will host its fourth annual World Mental Health Day Festival in New York City, the world’s largest celebration of World Mental Health Day. The daylong flagship event will bring together celebrities, executives, and cultural leaders to explore the defining public health issue of our generation: mental health. Previous participants have included Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Lovato, Daly, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, David Axelrod, Sally Yates, Sanaa Lathan, Gary Gulman, Ratner, Zak Williams and many more. The 2025 Festival’s panel and activation lineup to be announced.
ABOUT PROJECT HEALTHY MINDS:
Project Healthy Minds is a Millennial and Gen Z-driven mental health tech non-profit startup that is democratizing access to mental health services by building the world’s first digital mental health marketplace, destigmatizing mental health by partnering with culture-makers, and improving access and affordability by advocating for innovative workplace investments in employee mental health. The non-profit is focused on closing the treatment gap in America by attacking these primary barriers to care: stigma, discoverability, and affordability. Project Healthy Minds’ programmatic initiatives have served more than 400,000 Americans. For more information, visit www.projecthealthyminds.com.
PRESS CONTACT:
FerenComm on behalf of Project Healthy Minds
