Several members of the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club and staff of the Porter County Community Foundation met on June 28th at the Portage home of Emil Cripe and Mary Ann Lonergan for the installation of an access ramp for Emil, a U.S. Navy veteran. Emil served aboard various ships from 1967 – 1971 as a Gun Line Radarman.

Members of the Valparaiso Kiwanis club installed a ramp at the home of U.S. Navy Veteran Emil Cripe.
Back Row, Left to right: Bill Higbie, Porter County Community Foundation President & CEO; Valparaiso Kiwanis Club members Steve Stackert & Larry Fikes; Mary Anne Lonergan, ramp recipient; Emil Cripe, U.S. Navy Veteran and ramp recipient, Kiwanis Club members John Moulton & Bob Westfall. Front Row, Left to right: Kiwanis Club members Jan Dick, Kali Rasala, Mike Moorehead & Bob Gallowitch.

The Valparaiso Kiwanis Club has a long history of building ramps at the homes of Porter County residents whose mobility has become compromised. For many, these ramps are the difference between being homebound and having the ability to get out into the community for appointments, shopping or lunch with friends.

“This ramp is life-changing. I can now get in and out of the house safely, without the pain and fear that the steps create” said Emil Cripe. “We are so grateful.”

“Of the 47 ramps currently in place, 17 are at the homes of veterans,” said Kiwanis Club member Bob Westfall. “These ramps are high quality, very sturdy and reusable; when the individual no longer needs it, we disassemble it and store the components to be used again,” he added.

Funding for this ramp came from the George and Judith Urban Fund for Porter County Veterans at the Porter County Community Foundation. It was established in 2018 with a gift from the estate of Judith Urban.

“It was Mrs. Urban’s desire that her generosity be used to create an endowment fund that would exist forever to support programs and projects that benefit Porter County veterans,” said Bill Higbie, President & CEO of the Porter County Community Foundation. “It is a tremendous honor for the Foundation to steward the Urbans’ legacy for the benefit of those in our community who have served in the military,” he added.