On Monday, October 14, United Way Northwest Indiana Regional Development Executive Kelly DeCamp visited the Hammond Machine Works facility to personally thank Peter Nau Sr., Hammond Machine Works president and owner, and his son Peter Nau Jr., Hammond Machine Works vice president, for their organization’s donation to United Way Northwest Indiana’s Level Up program. Hammond Machine Works donated to the Level Up program a monetary gift of $5,000 to show its appreciation. Peter Nau Sr. and Peter Nau Jr. then proceeded to take DeCamp on a tour of the Hammond Machine Works office and manufacturing shop.
Peter Nau Sr. is pleased to be able to support the Region’s residents with his company’s contribution.
“I believe supporting your community in this way is the right thing to do,” Peter Nau Sr. said. “I think it is the obligation of business owners in the community to take the initiative and help support their fellow residents. I wish United Way Northwest Indiana’s Level Up program the very best of luck and I hope it enjoys continued success.”
The Level Up program receives financial support from private donors, corporations, and organizations throughout the community. The program is designed to equip individuals with the tools they need to achieve financial stability and has produced over 200 graduates since its inception in 2019. To be eligible for the program, candidates must be 18 years of age or older, have reliable transportation, live in Jasper, Porter, Lake, Newton, or Starke County, and make less than a given wage. The program offers qualified members financial literacy instruction and counseling, career planning and assistance, and support with childcare services.
DeCamp is grateful for the support that Hammond Machine Works has lent to the Level Up program.
“We can't do it alone,” DeCamp said. “Generational poverty is a complex issue that leads to a lack of education, healthcare, and job opportunities. It takes a village to remedy this issue and the best part of my job is that I get to work with community members like Peter Nau and Peter Nau Jr. They were willing to see the value in our Level Up program and ask, ‘What can we do to help?’” I believe in the Level Up program 100% and am glad that this job enables me to not only help change lives, but to also work with people who do incredible things in the community. Collaborations like this between Hammond Machine Works and United Way Northwest Indiana help make this community a better place to live for everyone.”
This is not the first time that Hammond Machine Works and the Nau family have been closely involved with United Way Northwest Indiana. D.N. Nau, who purchased Hammond Machine Works in 1960 and is the father of Peter Nau Sr., received several commemorative plaques for his contributions to United Way Northwest Indiana. These plaques, some of which date from the early ‘70s, are displayed in the Hammond Machine Works office today.
Peter Nau Sr. is proud to further his family’s legacy of charity and hopes to be an example for other local business owners.
“Companies used to be more involved with the community back in the day,” Peter Nau Sr. said. “That has changed over the last 45 years. They have become larger while growing fewer in number. That limits the donor options for organizations like United Way Northwest Indiana and my heart goes out to them. It is my hope that, with our donation, we at Hammond Machine Works can help inspire other companies to give back.”
Please visit unitedwaynwi.org to learn more about United Way Northwest Indiana’s Level Up program, along with its other services and upcoming events.
