The United Way of Northwest Indiana held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, October 1 to mark the official merger of Lake Area United Way and United Way of Porter County.
For more than 50 years, the two United Ways have been serving Northwest Indiana by supporting a vast network of health, education and financial stability programs to help residents in need get back on their feet.
“As our communities continue to grow and change, the lines between counties have started to blur. Many of our residents work in one county and live in another so they have a vested interest in what happens in both,” said Jeff Strack, CEO of Strack & Van Til and the new board chair of United Way of Northwest Indiana. “Our vision is to help residents thrive by bringing our caring community together to solve tough challenges to create a world where all individuals can achieve their full potential.”
The two organizations announced merger plans in early August. October 1 marks the official creation of the new organization.
“We are so excited about the direction we are moving, but our work isn’t done yet. The staff and board are working diligently to continue merging backend processes, so we continue to move forward as one,” Heather Ennis, President & CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum and the new board vice chair.
For the foreseeable future, both the Valparaiso and Griffith offices will remain open to serve the community. The organization is also in the process of looking for their first President & CEO and will have more information about its progress by the end of the year.
To learn more about United Way of Northwest Indiana and support their efforts, visit unitedwaynwi.org.
For more than 50 years, United Way has been serving Northwest Indiana residents in need with more than 70 programs. United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in Northwest Indiana. In 2020, United Way provided more than $4 million to support a vast network of social services to meet resident needs. To learn more about United Way of Northwest Indiana, visit unitedwaynwi.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.