United Way Pacesetters’ goal to boost business philanthropy Chester Inc. has a long history in Valparaiso, and it has evolved beyond being the business whose roots are connected to the iconic Orville Redenbacher popcorn. Chester Inc. was founded in 1947, said Rich Shields, the company’s director of marketing and business development. The firm today has […]
SLYCE Leadership
Youths benefit from planning and participating in event By Sol Estrada and Adriana Cattan SLYCE is a program that brings high school students together from around the Region and focuses on improving their leadership abilities. The Southshore Leadership Youth for Community Engagement program consists of hearing from speakers who work in impactful fields within the […]
Collaboration Leads to Incubator Program
Preparing graduates for the workforce It takes a village to ensure our youth get on the right path after high school. At least that’s the idea behind the La Porte Community School Corporation’s Hire a Slicer (www.hireaslicer.com) program and website. Through partnerships with local entities like the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce and the […]
Amazing Opportunities
OE enriches lives of adults with disabilities, creates community connections For more than 50 years, Opportunity Enterprises has helped individuals with disabilities forge new paths toward amazing achievements. “We say we are in the business of amazing people because we are. It’s been an incredible journey,” says Ellen DeMartinis, OE chief executive officer. “It started […]
Court Advocates Proves Helpful for Children
Care + common sense = CASA volunteer Sarah Fink says it doesn’t take much to become a Court Appoint Special Advocate or CASA for short. “You just have to be a caring person. You have to want to help children,” Fink says. “All you need is care and common sense. We teach you the rest.” […]
Real Food Blends
Real food meals for people with feeding tubes In finding a way to improve life for their son, Julie and Tony Bombacino were able to found a business that is also helping many around the country. Their company, Real Food Blends, makes 100 percent real food meals for people with feeding tubes. Their idea began […]
Lakefront Career Network
Network, develop professionally and engage with the community Millennials are an optimistic generation. “They (millennials) want to have a great impact on their community and their world, work with a team, get things done,” according to John Zogby, founder of the Zogby Poll. The Lakefront Career Network (LCN) is a dynamic group of young professionals […]
Building Hope
Steel City Salvage initiative addresses blight, creates jobs in Gary A nonprofit hopes to spur economic development while addressing issues like blight, in hard hit Gary. The Chicago-based Delta Institute is committed to building both a resilient environment and economy through sustainable solutions. The Steel City Salvage initiative in Gary is a local example of its […]
Hope and Compassion
Linda Perez leads St. Jude House’s work on behalf of domestic violence victims. Difficult conversations. Linda Perez initiates and facilitates such uncomfortable interactions on a daily basis to make a difference in the Northwest Indiana community. As executive director of St. Jude House, a rescue center for victims of domestic violence, she is not only […]
Creating an Ethical Culture
Trying to make the world a better place, in the workplace and in public service. by Laurie Wink In our highly competitive, hurry-up world, we face a continuous barrage of TV news, social media blasts and viral videos with freely shared opinions that can spark conflicts. In response to growing evidence of bad behavior, some […]