In times of struggle, we can always turn to our community to be reminded of all the good happening around us. Throughout 2021, that community was stronger than ever. Whether it was grabbing a friend to run a 5K with you, appreciating front-line workers, fundraising for countless amazing organizations, or celebrating the small stories of success that make our communities the special places that they are, there was a lot of good to go around this year.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 community articles from LaPorteCounty.Life in 2021:
3rd Annual Bolt for the Heart 5K sparks positive, lasting change in the community
The 3rd Annual Bolt for the Heart Family Run/Walk took place at Washington Park & Beach in Michigan City on Saturday afternoon. Presented by Franciscan Health, the event was able to gather donations that went directly towards purchasing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for patrol vehicles of the La Porte and Michigan City Police Departments.
Goodwill Excel Centers break down barriers to help Indiana residents complete high school education
With close to 200,000 adults in Northern Indiana who do not have a high school diploma, Goodwill Industries of Michiana recognized completing that diploma as a critical need within the communities it serves. While GEDs are an option to further education, Goodwill wanted to offer an alternative and created The Excel Centers.
American Licorice Company’s Sweet Goods Community Garden shows there’s more to sweetness than candy
American Licorice Company is all about all things sweet, but this sweetness extends beyond the candy it manufactures. Over the past five years, American Licorice associates have maintained a garden they aptly named Sweet Goods Community Garden. Both literally and figuratively sweet, this garden provides associates and community members the opportunity to sink their teeth into sweet fruits and fresh vegetables.
Drs. Zoreen and Rafat Ansari honored at Helping Hands Awards Dinner
On September 8, Center for Hospice Care held its 36th Helping Hands Awards Dinner. After a year of social distancing brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this awards dinner was two years in the making.
Ivy Tech Community College supports Region farmers through agriculture program
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana has many enticing programs for students in the Region, but one program that deserves a spotlight is the agriculture program.
The agriculture program at Ivy Tech Community College engages students in hands-on activities both in and out of their classrooms while preparing them for real-world agriculture careers. The program’s focus is primarily in the areas of livestock production, agronomy, agriculture equipment, and agribusiness. Ivy Tech Community College promotes nine different certificates, two technical certificates, and two associates degrees for agricultural studies.
Indiana American Water bolsters its communities through volunteer work and relationships with local fire departments
As a company that provides a utility that is vital to supporting the well-being of its communities, Indiana American Water (IAW) serves its communities with an attitude of responsibility and generosity. Wanting employees to engage with and volunteer in its communities, American Water created the American Water Charitable Foundation to encourage IAW and other American Water companies to get involved in bettering its communities.
Lakeshore SHRM hosts local leaders at La Porte Civic Auditorium to discuss La Porte County: present and future
Local leaders, hosted by Lakeshore SHRM, gathered to discuss the recently completed and upcoming projects in La Porte and Michigan City. City of La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody, Bert Cook from La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP), Katie Eaton from Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, and Clarence Hulse from Economic Development Corporation Michigan City (EDCMC) shared information with Lakeshore SHRM members regarding what has been accomplished in the last year and the projects and developments that are currently in the works.
La Porte County Family YMCA's Kindergarten Readiness Program encourages social and emotional connections in children
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the world in 2020, schools were forced to grapple with how to effectively teach and ensure students had access to quality education. While schools shut down and turned to eLearning, many families with young children in preschool began to worry about how their children would receive the vital early childhood education preschoolers need to continue on to the next stage in life, along with where they can find accessible daycare. The La Porte County Family YMCA understood this predicament and, once it was safe to do so, responded to this issue with their new Kindergarten Readiness Program.
Unity Foundation of La Porte County unveils vibrant communities, shaping future of La Porte County
Now over a year and a half in the works, Unity Foundation of La Porte County and the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau have unveiled a momentous effort in partnership with its local communities called Vibrant Communities of La Porte County. The action agenda is to be the first the county and its cities and towns have seen in over 30 years unifying local communities’ ideas, experiences, and unique input to create a kind of roadmap to a more prosperous and vibrant community.
Unprecedented times, unprecedented compassion: Horizon Bank supports its communities in 2020
In 2020, with COVID-19 instigating many issues hurting local communities, Horizon Bank did what it does best and rushed to donate $250,000 for COVID-19 relief efforts in March of 2020. This pledge was in addition to their yearly Horizon Cares grants that are distributed throughout Indiana and Michigan totaling over $180,000.