The 4th Annual Good Life Awards, a fundraising celebration of good people in Northwest Indiana who have helped the LIFE mission grow, is taking place on August 13, 2015 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm CST at the Blue Chip Casino!
The annual event honors six awardees who go above and beyond to impact the mission of the Ideas in Motion Media good news networks - ValpoLife.com, PortageLife.com, LaPorteCountyLife.com and NWIndianaLife.com - in a positive and meaningful manner. Each winner is honored with a custom solid-steel Good Life Award trophy, designed and crafted by Industrial Revolution owner Mike Leeson.
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Funds from this year's event will go to benefit Lake Area United Way, United Way of Porter County, and United Way of La Porte County, reflecting on the growth of the LIFE networks across Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties and the incredible impact these three organizations have across Northwest Indiana through the countless agencies they support.
“I start looking forward to each year’s Good Life Awards literally the day after the last one is over,” explained Chris Mahlmann, CEO and Publisher of Ideas in Motion Media. “We know we cannot share all the good news in the region without help, and while we’re able to touch a lot of organizations, businesses, and people, we like to recognize six who understand how to make a positive impact with us.”
This is the first year the event will be held at “It’s Vegas Baby” at the Blue Chip Casino. The previous three years the awards ceremony has been held at Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille in Valparaiso, however - like the good news network itself - the event has grown into a bigger venue.
“Mike and his handmade trophies are signature parts of this event, representing the strength and lasting nature of great relationships,” said Mahlmann. “We’re excited to move to the Blue Chip; they’ve been longtime supporters of ours and sponsor this event every year,”
The annual event raises funds for non-profits serving Northwest Indiana. Previous organizations that have benefited from the GLAs include the Porter County Career and Technical Center, Portage Township YMCA, United Way of La Porte County, A Positive Approach to Teen Health, La Porte County YMCA and the Valpo Schools Foundation.
Click here for sponsorship information!
"We, at Lake Area United Way, are really excited and grateful to have been chosen as one of this year's beneficiaries of the Good Life Awards Banquet," said Lisa Daugherty, President & CEO of the Lake Area United Way. "We appreciate Chris and his staff, and their undying commitment to sharing positive stories about the great things that are developing right here in Northwest Indiana. We are also looking forward to attending the event and supporting the winners!"
"We are thrilled that Ideas in Motion Media has chosen the United Ways in Northwest Indiana for the 2015 Good Life Award. We appreciate all the wonderful stories and pictures that Ideas in Motion share daily about the amazing people in NWI," explained Sharon Kish, President of the United Way of Porter County.
United Way of LaPorte County is truly honored to be a beneficiary of the 2015 Good Life Awards along with our United Way partners in Lake and Porter Counties. The on-going support we receive from the Ideas in Motion Media team is priceless," said Kris Pate, Executive Director of the United Way of La Porte County. "We thank them for their contributions to making this world a better place; wherever we go in the community to promote what we call the “common good”, they’re there helping us get the word out and celebrate what happens when we LIVE UNITED. Chris Mahlmann and his staff have changed the definition of what’s newsworthy in Northwest Indiana. We’re definitely looking forward to this year’s awards event!"
Tickets are on sale now for the event for $40 each, and be sure to save the date for this great event with proceeds benefiting two organizations that offer assistance to so many.
Contact Jenny Craig Brown to sponsor this GOOD event at 219.707.5023 or by email at jenny@ideasinmotionmedia.com. Click here to download more sponsorship information.
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)
The 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).