More than 140 honorees who have made a positive impact to the City of Portage joined together at the city’s Annual Recognition Ceremony in celebration of one another’s passion for giving back to the community.
“Tonight, we get to recognize not only new businesses, but also any businesses that did a great improvement to their business which helps increase the esthetic value of the City of Portage,” said Nancy Simpson, tonight’s host and the Executive Director of the Portage Chamber of Commerce. “We have new construction such as Hooters, the Holiday Inn Express, and the Promenade, which have brought a wonderful downtown atmosphere to the City of Portage.”
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“[These businesses] will be recognized as well as people who have contributed a lot time, talent, and treasure, which encompasses our theme this year- thanking those who’ve given time, talent and treasure to the City of Portage,” said Simpson.
“We are also giving awards such as the Humanitarian of the Year, Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Community Impact, and many more,” shared Simpson.
The night was kicked-off with the recognition ceremony to the individuals and businesses for their dedication to better the City of Portage. At intermission, attendees were invited to participate in raffles, a photo booth, and a dinner catered by Texas Roadhouse, followed by a chance to win tickets to a Chicago Bulls game.
Once the fun and games were over, then came award time. “It’s an honor and a surprise to receive this award. My passion is to meet with people, talk with people, get to know their lives, and learn how I can help anyway I can,” said Jason Kegebein, the winner of the Community Impact Award.
Kegebein serves as Vice President of the South Haven Lions Club, member of the Portage Rotary Club, Director of South Haven Boys & Girls Club for Greater Northwest Indiana, and the lead Pastor of the New Hope Church of God in South Haven. On top of serving all of those great organizations, Kegebein participated in 500 Turkeys as well as his local food pantry, which serves 1,200 people each month.
As the night closed, Kegebein shared, “There’s a quote I like to live by that I’d like to share with you. The quote simply says we can either be affected by the world or we can affect the world. I think that all of us in this room tonight are born with a purpose, and each day we wake up we have the ability to go forward and do that very thing - affect the world.”
If you would like to learn more about the happenings of the City of Portage, check out their website at www.ci.portage.in.us for more information.