Mayor Pete Land and the City of Crown Point recognized various community stakeholders during Tuesday evening’s State of the City Address.
Land and the City awarded late developer Bruce White with the Excellence in Development award, which recognizes an outstanding commitment to development in Crown Point.
“This past year not only Crown Point, but certainly the Region, lost a giant — Mr. Bruce White. To say that the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation has had an impact on Crown Point is the understatement of the year,” Land said. “The White Foundation and Bruce White have helped transform Crown Point from our Sportsplex, this facility, Bulldog Park, our police K-9 program, the YMCA and so many more. Bruce left us way too soon, but his footprint and legacy will most definitely live on.”
Bill Hanna, executive director of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, accepted the award on the family’s behalf, thanking the City for honoring White, “in such a kind, appropriate way.”
“Thank you all. It’s a pleasure and honor to be here. It’s a distinct honor of a lifetime, really, to be able to represent the White family. I’m absolutely humbled by it. Bruce, obviously, was a tremendous person,” Hanna said. “He just loved this community, and for the very reason that we can see here tonight, the excitement, the commitment, the turnout, the strength of Crown Point.”
Hanna added the Foundation looks forward to future partnerships.
"We’re looking forward to new and exciting things, expansions at our favorite facility, the YMCA, and other things in Crown Point that just keep us engaged with all of you. I think the future is very bright,” Hanna said.
Land also recognized six Crown Point businesses that have been in business for 25-plus years in 2022, including Candy Cove, Computer Solutions, the Crown Point Community Foundation, Kwiatkowski Masonry, Inc., Mirar Custom Homes and Shirer Insurance Services.
Two Crown Point Community School Corp. students — Samantha West and Ethan Flaherty — also received recognition and a $500 scholarship from the City and the Crown Point Community Foundation for their dedication to serving the community. The Crown Point Community School Corp. requires students have 40 hours of community service to graduate. West had 389 hours, and Flaherty had 400 hours.