A Feast Fit for Kids

As the plates came out, you could see the kids' smiles growing bigger and bigger. As the steak was set in front of each of them, pure excitement filled their bodies. Some kids teased the adults sitting with them, while some adults tried to barter with the kids to trade meals. The tradition for the Steak and Burger Dinner is a twist of the normal meal served. The kids are served steaks while the adults are stuck with the burgers.

"I loved the steak," club member Tabitha F. said.

The 14th annual Boys and Girls Club Steak and Burger Dinner hosted by Porter Regional Hospital was held at the Harre Union Ballroom at Valparaiso University. There were four clubs and nine kidstop school programs representing the Porter County area with 380 people in total attendance. One could say this dinner was a success.

"I enjoyed talking to all of the community members and getting to know them better was great," club member Daniel D. said.

There was also a silent auction that featured items such as a grill, a limo ride with complimentary champagne,  a game of golf at Sand Creek Country Club, and a signed Pacers hat were all up for bids.

The dinner spotlighted three special club members,  Golf Junyanid, Tyler Goodman and John Sego. These members were honored at their clubs with the award of Youthof theYear. The latter will be on his way to compete for the title Indiana Youth of the Year.

The keynote speaker, Josh Bleill, a spokesman for the Indianapolis Colts. Beihl lost both of his legs serving for the United States Marine. He spoke about his experience in the Marines.

"The keynote speaker was pretty great," Joe Juarez, director of the Duneland Club said.

"It isn't about the exterior appearance, it was about the morals my parents taught me, the things I learned at the Boys and Girls Club. Remember those little things the Boys and Girls Club taught you," Bleill said.

"The Boys and Girls Club is truly a blessing, the donors that give, the volunteers that constantly help out. The Boys and Girls Club reaches out, they give you that helping hand." Bleill added.

The night ended with eight bikes given to a boy and a girl club member from each of the following clubs Duneland, Portage, South Haven, and Valparaiso.

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Click here to find out more about the Boys and Girls Club of Porter County! Find then on Facebook, too!

Presenting Sponsor: Porter Regional Hospital

T-Shirt Sponsor:REGIONAL Federal Credit Union

Program Booklet Sponsors: Emerson Industrial Automation

Steak Sponsors: Allen Family; John Will Anderson Foundation; Duneland Resale Shop; Dr. and Mrs. Eric Hein; Blachy, Tabor, Bozik, & Hartman; Family Express, Simpson Co, Inc.; Radion One Communications.

Burger Sponsors: Absolutely Dry; Ken Allen & Associates; Max and Thelma Dickey; Douglas Koeppen &Hurley; Hoepner, Wagner & Evans; Independent Order of Odd Fellows Chequeuk Lodge #56; Valparaiso Sunrise Kiwanis; MDMS; Monosol; Aqua Indiana; Commercial Resource Group; CSI; Horizon Bank; Lakeside Wealth Management; NIPSCO; Task Force Tips; Town and Country Markets; USS -Gary Works; Vale Park Animal Hospital; Von Tobel.