"Laying the foundation for life long success"
Founded in 1999

With his move to the NFL, Peyton established the PeyBack Foundation to help disadvantaged youth build a successful future for themselves. The Foundation accomplishes its mission by assisting established community-based programs and providing fundamental leadership and growth opportunities for kids. It focuses its efforts in a three state region Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana.

The Foundation has donated more than $1.3 million to youth organizations in Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana since 1999. In 2006, The Foundation distributed more than $312,500 in grants to 53 different community agencies in those states, including more than $115,000 to New Orleans based organizations for Katrina Relief.  The Foundation provides assistance to organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, area food banks, summer, after school and youth athletic programs.   The grant application is available on www.peytonmanning.com and the deadline is February 1 of each year.

Peyton not only supports the PeyBack Foundation financially, but is integral to ensuring its success. As President of the foundation, Peyton is active in all major decisions concerning its initiatives and constantly seeks new opportunities and organizations to further the success of the foundation.

One of the most visible of the PeyBack Foundation events is the PeyBack Bowl.  Since 2003, Peyton has hosted this annual event. This event has raised more than $850,000 for the PeyBack Foundation. Manning and other celebrities hit the bowling lanes to raise money for underprivileged children in Indianapolis. Past celebrities have included NBC sports anchor Bob Costas, former MLB great Cal Ripken, Jr., TV celebrity James Denton, NASCAR great Tony Stewart, IRL greats Sam Hornsh, Jr, Dan Weldon, Scott Dixon, numerous Indianapolis Colts (coaches and players) along with NBA players, college basketball coaches and many more.

Peyton launched the inaugural PeyBack Classic in 2000, enabling five inner-city Indianapolis high school football teams to play in the RCA Dome.   This event was held specifically to benefit these schools participating with all proceeds going directly to the struggling athletic departments.  In 2004, the Foundation decided to select four new schools every year to enable more student athletes have the opportunity to play in a professional stadium.  The seventh PeyBack Classic was held on Friday, September 8 and it feature Hamilton Southeastern defeating Zionsville and Cathedral defeating Chatard.  The Foundation has contributed more than $300,000 to the participating schools.

The Foundation instituted a new program the Peyton's Pals program in 2003. The Foundation worked with Child Advocates in Indianapolis to select 20 middle school kids to participate in the program. The Foundation sponsors a series of special events for 20 kids, with at least one event a month. The purpose of the program is to provide monthly outings and activities to benefit at-risk children chosen from the client population of Child Advocates. The events expose them to a variety of educational, cultural and community service activities throughout the year. The program concentrates on living a healthy lifestyle and helps them deal with peer, family and school pressures. Highlights from the past years have included an overnight trip to Kings Island in Cincinnati, a Cincinnati Reds, Indianapolis Colts, Indians and Indiana Pacers games, dinner at St. Elmo Steakhouse, a viewing of the Lion King at the Murat Theatre and a special community projects with Joy’s House and Special Olympics Indiana. This past June Peyton’s Pals were treated to a three day Disney Cruise – a trip that they will never forget. It was the first time these kids had ever flown, seen the ocean or had even been out of the state of Indiana. Needless to say, it was a trip of a lifetime for these children. Twenty new students will be selected in February 2007

Since 2002, the Foundation hosted more than 1,000 disadvantaged Indianapolis children from more than 100 different community agencies for the PeyBack Holiday Celebration at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The special event included dinner, a visit from Santa, special Christmas presents from Peyton, and the opportunity to visit the nationally renowned museum. Also, the Foundation hosts holiday parties in the month of December in New Orleans and Knoxville, Tennessee for hundreds of children.

Since 2004, the Foundation has provided a Thanksgiving dinner to more than 1200 families. Partnering with Marsh Supermarkets, Foundation volunteers stuff and distribute more than 600 bags of groceries which include, ham, mashed potatoes, muffin and stuffing mix, fruit, vegetables and much more.

The Foundation instituted a new program in September of 2004 in conjunction with St. Vincent Children’s Hospital. The “True Heroes” program provides events and parties with selected children at St. Vincent Children’s Hospital several times throughout the year. Peyton Manning wants to show each child that they are not in the fight alone. Past events included special pizza parties, holiday celebrations at Barnes and Noble, tickets to sporting events, trips to the Zoo and special visits from Manning and his teammates.

The Foundation Peyton's Pals Ticket Incentive Program makes it possible for disadvantaged children to attend Indianapolis Colts home games. The foundation carefully selects local community organizations to participate in the program. Each organization receives 50 tickets, and a PeyBack Foundation T-shirt.

Peyton and the Foundation joined forces with Vectren Corporation to institute the Bright Ideas grant program in 2003. In partnership with Vectren and the Indiana Department of Education, Bright Ideas offers up to $500 to individual teachers to assist with local educational needs. The program allows teachers the opportunity to apply for grants for special classroom projects.