Maggie Spartz, the Unity Foundation of La Porte County’s founding president, will retire at the end of 2025.
Under Spartz’s longtime leadership, the Michigan City-based organization has grown to over $50 million in assets. The foundation has benefitted thousands of people and hundreds of La Porte County organizations.
“In 1992, an opportunity presented by the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to start a community foundation grew into a thriving and impactful organization,” Spartz said in a press release. “Building the Unity Foundation from scratch and transforming La Porte County and the Region has been the honor of my lifetime.”
As president of the foundation, Spartz has served La Porte County and the Region for over 33 years. She worked to unify the county and region and champion innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Jon Gilmore, Unity Foundation board of directors chairman, called Spartz the heart and soul of the foundation.
“Under her extraordinary leadership, Unity has grown exponentially, touching countless lives in our community,” Gilmore said. “Her unwavering dedication and visionary guidance have established a lasting legacy.”
Spartz’s key achievements since 1992 include:
- Raising $55 million in Unity directly plus $23 million in indirect grants.
- Awarding nearly $29 million in grants and scholarships.
- Fostering numerous collaborations that have impacted housing, homelessness, community leadership, youth development, the environment, education and arts and culture.
- Representing La Porte County on the regional, state and national stage.
- Managing 350 funds that reflect the goals and values of the donors.
- Attracting $18 million from the Lilly Endowment for education and literacy programs that reached over 67,000 learners in La Porte, Lake and Porter Counties.
- Cultivating and mentoring aspiring leaders through Leadership La Porte County.
The Unity Foundation’s board of directors will initiate a succession plan and search for the next president in January 2025.
