Ideas in Motion Media and our positive news websites and social media networks, ValpoLife.com, PortageLife.com. LaPorteCountyLife.com and NWIndianaLife.com are throwing our 7th Annual GOOD LIFE AWARDS Party!
We are hosting this year's event as a high energy kick off party breakfast to allow many more of our partners, non-profits, and friends to attend.
Once again, six outstanding people who have impacted LIFE in a very positive way will be honored on Thursday, December 13th with a solid steel award custom designed by Mike Leeson of Industrial Revolution.
Three awesome non-profit organizations will be chosen during the event to receive a full year-long marketing campaign on the Life networks to drive their message and campaigns, voted on by our very own Good Life attendees. The #Vote4Good Contest will happen during the breakfast of the Good Life Awards and all attendees will be able to vote for their favorite non-profit group. Whether you are a community leader, humanitarian, admirer, an employee, or have been blessed by one, we want your vote! Just remember, you must attend the 2018 Good Life Awards to vote! Non-profits wishing to enter to win can click here to download the #Vote4Good form. Those should be returned to Stephanie Swearington at stephanie@ideasinmotionmedia.com on or before November 29th.
$40 ticket purchase includes Sand Creek's incredible champagne breakfast. To sponsor the event, contact Jenny Craig-Brown at 219-707-5023 or jenny@ideasinmotionmedia.com, and to reserve a full table please call Stephanie Swearington at 219-707-5023.
Previous beneficiaries include Habitat for Humanity of Porter County, CASA, Frontline Foundations, Hannah's Hope, Worthy Women's Recovery Home, United Way of La Porte County, United Way of Porter County, Lake Area United Way, the Porter County Career and Technical Center, Portage Township YMCA, A Positive Approach to Teen Health, La Porte County YMCA, and the Valpo Schools Foundation.
We are so proud to announce our sponsors for the event, Regional Federal Credit Union, NorthShore Health Centers, Steindler Signs & Graphix, Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation, NIPSCO, CertaPro Painters of Northwest Indiana, Sage-Popovich, Inc. General Insurance Services, Holladay Properties, Party DJ's, Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City, and Multiple Agency Academy Cooperative.
We are excited to announce the winners for this year's 7th annual Good Life Awards –
Ken Elwood, longtime owner at Rhame, Elwood & McClure: Attorneys at Law.
Ken has served Portage through countless board positions, service organizations, his work as an attorney, and coaching of our athletes for decades, as well as serving as the Chief of the public defender’s office in Porter County.
Jerry Davich, the widely read columnist for the PostTrib newspaper, radio host at Lakeshore Public Radio - 89.1 FM, and writer for Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly.
Jerry serves on many fronts as a voice of the region asking questions, engaging his readers and the region to celebrate the beauty and challenge the beast that is NWI.
John Seibert, the Valpo Parks Director, works hard to make so many great programs available to Valpo residents young and old, and has mentored so many in the community who have worked for the Parks.
Thomas McDermott Jr. is the 5th choice of the 6 to receive a good life award this year. He thought what we were doing in Valpo was cool, and has been a vocal supporter to the Life mission from the first time we met. He has been up for every idea we've had to share good news about the region, was the first in doing all kinds of things like our Driving the Streets of NWI video series, and making every person on our team so welcome and appreciated every time we are in his city of Go Hammond are all part of why we will recognize Mayor Tom.
Kyle Granat is the 4th choice of the 6 to receive a good life award this year. He built the foundation of everything Life related online and all our internal IT systems before going on years ago to careers in robotics and 3D printing. His impact went so beyond his technology contribution, making parade floats and carrying boom boxes telling the news of ice cream socials at Valpo Velvet, and building so many things that were a special Chris request. He represents the best of what a Lifer is.
Kevin Kosek has passion pouring out of his smile, heart, mind, and body for everything he supports. Whether it is cheerleading on for his company Regional Federal Credit Union, or coaching the boys football teams at the junior high level, or jumping with excitement on the sidelines for the high school boys, Kevin is all in on everything he says and does. He has been one of the first believers in the life mission, and he brings that enthusiasm to everyone he meets about our good news platform, and more importantly, our people.
6th Annual Goodlife Awards:
Story|Photos| Fundraiser Recipients: Hannah's Hope, CASA, Habitat for Humanity
Winners: Ian Bowen (Owner and Head Trainer of Pumps Fitnes), Patricia Bengert (composition and music teacher for 5o years), Brian Snedecor (Mayor of Hobart), Bill Hanna (President and CEO of NWI Regional Development Authority), Erin Parker (High School Journalism Teacher for La Porte County Schools), and Stephanie Swearington (Director of Operations and HR at Ideas in Motion Media).
5th Annual Good Life Awards:
Story | Photos | Fundraiser Recipients:Frontline Foundations, Hannah's Hope, Worthy Women Recovery Home
Winners: Sue Reed (Crossroads Chamber of Commerce), Jeanne Sommer (Century 21 / Lakeshore PAWS), Marty Corley (Michigan City Police Department), Bob Phelps (Porter County Career & Technical Center), Jan Wilson (Northshore Health Centers), Anna Hanson (Ideas in Motion Media)
4th Annual Good Life Awards:
Story | Photos | Fundraiser Recipients: United Way of La Porte County, United Way of Porter County, Lake Area United Way.
Winners: Jenny Craig-Brown (Executive Team Leader at Ideas in Motion Media), Celina Weatherwax (Congressman Pete Visclosky), Heather Ennis (NWI Forum), Jack Hines (Hines Plumbing), Cindy Berchem (La Porte County Family YMCA), Paul Schreiner (Project Neighbors).
3rd Annual Good Life Awards:
Story | Photos | Fundraiser Recipients: Positive Approach to Teen Health, La Porte County YMCA
Winners: Brett Fuller (Managing Editor at Ideas in Motion Media), Dave Kasarda (La Porte County YMCA), Darlene Cohn (owner of D. Cohn Communications), Dave Sisk (United Way of La Porte County), Bert Cook (executive director of the Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation), Loretta Finnegan (mother to Chris Mahlmann).
2nd Annual Good Life Awards:
Story | Photos | Fundraiser Recipients: Portage Township YMCA, United Way of La Porte County
Winners: Blair Milo (Mayor of La Porte), Donna Flanagin (owner of Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service), Nancy Simpson (Portage Township YMCA Marketing and Fund Development Director), Mary Koselke (owner of Blackbird Cafe), Tom Steindler (owner of Steindler Signs), Dr. Tom Cavanaugh Jr. (former owner of Cavanaugh Orthodontics, father-in-law)
1st Annual Good Life Awards:
Story | Photos | Fundraiser Recipients: Valpo Schools Foundation, Porter County Career & Technical Center
Winners: Jon Groth (Porter County Career & Technical Center), Olga Velazquez (former Mayor of Portage), Jonathan Nalli (former CEO of Porter Health Care), Ivan Bodensteiner (IIMM landlord, Valparaiso University Law Professor), Cathy Brown (owner of Valpo Velvet Ice Cream), Natalie Mahlmann (IIMM Accountant, Powerhouse behind the idea).