Foundation, Kiwanis Partner on Ramp for Local Veteran

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.

Two Portage Nonprofits Receive Grant From Porter County Community Foundation

The Porter County Community Foundation recently awarded two Community Fund grants to Portage nonprofits, Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities and the Portage Township YMCA.

Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities used the funds to purchase computers, “smart boards” and other equipment to outfit their classrooms and help launch their college and workplace readiness program. This program includes onsite training opportunities for students as well as certification programs for those continuing their education or entering the workplace.   

With their grant funding, the Portage Township YMCA was able to start an after school drug prevention program for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. The Portage Township YMCA wishes to help combat the issue of substance abuse by providing a safe place for kids to go after school while being educated on the real dangers of drug use through an evidence-based drug prevention curriculum.

Annual Women’s Fund Grants Awarded at Impact Porter County Membership Dinner

Over $50,000 in grants was awarded on Wednesday evening by Impact Porter County - a women’s giving circle associated with the Porter County Community Foundation.  The giving circle presented the 2017 grants on May 17th at their annual membership dinner at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton.

Impact Porter County members aim to make a positive and lasting influence in the community by awarding grants to Porter County nonprofits whose mission is to improve the quality of life for women and children.  Two high-impact grants of $25,000 each were awarded to Hannah’s Hope and the Portage Township YMCA.   The other finalists, Dunebrook Inc., Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary and Porter County PACT, were each awarded a $2,000 grant.

Hannah’s Hope is an organization that assists families who have children with special needs. Often times, special therapy and equipment is essential to meet a child’s physical, emotional and social needs but with the overwhelming amount of expenses families of children with special needs have, they are not always attainable.  Hannah’s Hope provides up to $500 per child per year to help these families purchase the necessary tools to help their child. The funds from this grant will continue their mission to “Help Hannah Help Others” throughout Porter County.

The Portage Township YMCA and the Portage Township School Corporation have partnered together to bring a Summer Learning Loss Prevention Program to low-income second and third grade students in Portage. This free, six week summer program will provide a safe, fun and educational environment for students to help prevent learning-loss that occurs during the summer months. In the first year, thirty-two children will be selected to participate in the program.  This program continues the Portage Township YMCA’s support of students and their educational, emotional and social growth progress.

Impact Porter County has now awarded over $500,000 in Women’s Fund grants since its inception.  To learn more about Impact or to view Women’s Fund impact stories, visit www.pccf.gives or contact the Foundation at 219-465-0294.

: Porter County Community Foundation Presents Grants to Porter County Nonprofits

The Porter County Community Foundation recently awarded grants from its Community Fund to several nonprofit organizations. Grantees are selected through a competitive application process open to 501(c)(3) agencies serving Porter County.

The Family & Youth Services Bureau was awarded a grant that provided the necessary funds to have a new roof installed on their downtown Valparaiso building.  

The Independent Cat Society is a non-profit, cage-less, no-kill cat shelter that has promoted the welfare of all animals, especially cats, since 1976. In conjunction with the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) Community Cat Clinic and local Porter County Veterinarians, the funds from the grant will help spay or neuter 100 cats or dogs in our community.  

Porter County Association for Handicapped Children and Adults received funds to help make a difference and improve their clients’ daily lives.  With the funds, this organization can purchase custom devices necessary for individual clients that Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance won’t cover. This equipment will help children and adults enjoy everyday activities with their families in a more inclusive manner.

Porter-Starke used the funds to support their InSHAPE program that is designed to improve the physical health and wellness of people with mental illness. Participants met weekly, developed individual fitness plans, exercised, and learned about nutrition & healthy eating.  The YMCA partnered with Porter-Starke to help make this nationally-recognized program possible here in Porter County.

Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation received funds to bring a real-life storytelling event to Northwest Indiana’s Memorial Opera House, which was selected as the host site for all of Chicagoland. The performance, “This is My Brave”, is part of a national campaign to raise awarness of mental health issues.  

The Knights of Columbus’ Bike Project - founded by Mark Siminiski - received funds to purchase parts that will help repair donated bikes. These bikes are restored and then given away through various organizations to kids who may have only dreamed of having their own bike.    

The Portage Resale shop needed new furnaces for their building, which still had its original systems from the 1960’s.  With the community fund grant, the new heating system is in place allowing the organization to heat the building more efficiently and expand their work into areas of the building that were previously unusable.

The Kouts Volunteer Fire Department received a Community Fund Grant to purchase eight new nozzles for this all-volunteer fire department. Replacing this critical equipment will enhance delivery of water in an emergency situation and creates uniformity of the nozzles on all five trucks.  The grant also enabled them to purchase a hose washer and two adapter valves.

The flooring in the activity & dining room of St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center was original to the building and had cracked and lifted after 19 years of wear and tear, resulting in a safety hazard for their clients and visitors. The new flooring is a non-slip surface that is level, and was purposefully chosen in a neutral color, allowing all participants to feel comfortable when entering the room.