ArcelorMittal recently awarded a $20,000 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related grant to the Porter County Parks Foundation to support the partnership between the Porter County Career and Technical School (PCCTS) and the Porter County Parks & Recreation Department as the two agencies work to build an educational dock on the “No-Can-Do Pond” at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Liberty Township in 2015.
The dock is part of the on-going Pond and Prairie Restoration and engages the PCCTS students in STEM activities by utilizing their expertise and assistance to design, engineer and potentially build the proposed dock. “This is a one of kind partnership that not only helps to make our kids more employable but helps to improve our quality of life in Porter County. This will benefit the more than 3,500 field trip students and thousands of daily visitors at the park,” said Walter Lenckos, Superintendent for Porter County Parks and Recreation.
The Dock will be utilized by park staff and volunteers for field trips and educational programming to teach local students and park visitors about native species, water quality, wetlands, pond environments and our human impact on them.
“ArcelorMittal is proud to partner with Porter County Parks Foundation on a project that deeply connects two of the chief tenants of our philanthropic giving program – science education and environmental conservation,” said Marcy Twete, Manager, Corporate Responsibility, Americas and Executive Director, USA Foundation, ArcelorMittal. “In addition, ArcelorMittal believes strongly in the power of public-private partnerships and looks forward to seeing this project move forward with the help of key partners in the public, private, education and nonprofit sectors.”
Porter County Parks has partnered with ArcelorMittal, Porter County Career and Technical School, the Porter County Parks Foundation, DNR, Soil & Water Conservation District of Porter County, and Purdue North Central (Westville Campus) to restore the pond and prairie at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.
The mission of the Porter County Parks and Recreation Department is to preserve, protect and manage the natural, cultural and recreational resources within a diverse park system.
Porter County Parks and Recreation is committed to delivering youth, adult and school programs to the residents of Porter County and Northwest Indiana, while also providing a gateway into the natural beauty of our area through its unique parks and trails.
About ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in more than 60 countries and an industrial footprint in over 20 countries. Guided by a philosophy to produce safe, sustainable steel, we are the leading supplier of quality steel in the major global steel markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with world-class research and development and outstanding distribution networks.
Through our core values of sustainability, quality and leadership, we operate responsibly with respect to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and the communities in which we operate.
In 2013, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $79.4 billion and crude steel production of 91.2 million tons, while own iron ore production reached 58.4 million tons.
For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: www.arcelormittal.com
About Porter County Parks and Recreation
The mission of the Porter County Parks and Recreation Board and Department is to preserve, protect and manage the natural, cultural and recreational resources within a diverse park system. They are committed to delivering youth, adult and school programs to the residents of Porter County, while also providing a gateway into the natural beauty of our area through its unique parks and trails.