CHERYL MCELROY

BLOOD DRIVE
In response to Indiana’s critically low blood supply, IndyGo partnered with the Versiti Indiana Blood Center and hosted a blood drive at our 1501 facility. Employees came together as a total of 20 units were collected and 60 lives were saved.

Ed’s Story:
“I take more time to enjoy my family. I’ve learned to appreciate the simple things and just appreciate life itself.” IndyGo’s Director of Facilities, Ed Parsley, shares that although he has been a past blood donor, he never gave much thought to the difference he was making. That changed April 29, 2020, the first day of a 25-day hospital stay for Ed. “My day here at IndyGo was a typical workday, but by the time I arrived home, I was feeling very weak.” That weakness was followed with Ed fainting and having seizures. After 20 days in ICU, five days in RCU, an exhaustive panel of tests, and multiple blood transfusions totaling 16 units of blood, Ed underwent a series of surgeries to remedy the discovered internal bleeding. “I feel great now - and I sometimes wonder who my donors might have been. Who saved my life?” According to Mayo Clinic data, the normal hemoglobin level for men is 13.5-17.5. Ed’s level dropped to 4. Certainly adds clarity to the importance of blood drives and maintaining the blood supply. “I plan to continue being a blood donor. I’m so appreciative of the support I received from IndyGo and proud to be a part of a company that cares enough to support and host blood drives.” Throughout our lifetime, fear always seems to find a way to rear its ugly head - sometimes in small things, sometimes in big ways. When asked about how he remained positive during his ordeal, Ed shared that this hospital stay took place during the most critical COVID-19 restrictions - which meant his wife, family, friends were not able to visit. “It was definitely a scary time, a scary ordeal - but even with no visitors, I knew I wasn’t alone. I have a sign in my office that reads, ‘Let Your FAITH Be Bigger Than Your FEAR.’ That holds more meaning to me now than ever.”

 

 

#SOUNDTHEHORN 
As part of a nationwide campaign, IndyGo recently celebrated our continued frontline work as public transit employees. In the spirit of recognition, operators simultaneously sounded two one-second horn blasts from vehicles that were in service while other employees gathered together at 1501 to sound two one-second blasts with noisemaker horns. Thank you to all IndyGo employees as we remain #HeroesMovingHeroes

 

INDYGO IN THE NEWS
IndyGo Goes Red 
We are excited to share the American Heart Association Indianapolis recently named to Inez to chair the Circle of Red movement in Indianapolis. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women over age 20 and less than 44% of women are aware of this fact.
 

Bosma Enterprises Donates Surgical Masks and Face Shields
IndyGo recently received 2,000 surgical masks and face shields as a donation through our partnership with Bosma Enterprises. Recognition of IndyGo providing the essential service of getting riders to doctors, the grocery store, and their jobs earned us this generous donation.
 

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Thanks Our Operators
Alpha Sigma Chapter members of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority showed their thanks and appreciation for our essential work by distributing more than 100 snack bags to IndyGo operators.
 

200 Voices - Indianapolis Monthly Spotlight
IndyGo employees were recently spotlighted in Indianapolis Monthly, a local general interest & cultural magazine. As part of Indianapolis’ June bicentennial birthday, 200 Indy residents from all walks of life were invited to speak up about their love and dreams for our city. 
 

“My happiest memory in Indianapolis was the opening of the Red Line. I was so excited about that project and what it symbolized for the city: forward progress.”
- Jerome Horn, Ridership Experience Specialist
 

“What will Indy look like 20 years from now? I’m getting ready to be a grandmother for the first time, and I hope this city is going to be better for that kid. Crime, a shortage of jobs, vacant houses - that’s not what I want for that baby.”
-Charisse Bryant, Customer Service Representative
 

“I moved to Indianapolis from Los Angeles, and I’ve been surprised by how little is missing from our city. There’s a great soul food restaurant right around the corner from me that plays live jazz. We have games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and at Lucas Oil Stadium. What more does a man need?”
-Frank White, Operator

 

DRIVERS SIDE BY NATHAN BARNES SR.
Believe In Yourself.

Oftentimes, the difference in whether you achieve success comes down to one simple step, believing in yourself. As a coach operator, you must build your self-confidence and believe in your learned & practiced skills of operating a coach safely. That belief will help develop your comfort level of engaging with riders and in turn, provide them a feeling of safety and confidence as an IndyGo rider. Believing in yourself can erase self-doubt, stimulate motivation & optimism, help you recognize your own abilities, and truly bring you more joy in life. American author Napoleon Hill wrote, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” I challenge you to develop your mind to believe in yourself, your abilities, and your success as a coach operator - and you will discover that great possibilities are endless.