Duneland Health Council Wins Philanthropy Award

Duneland-Health-Council-2012The Duneland Health Council was recently awarded the Foundation Philanthropist of the Year Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northwest Indiana Chapter in recognition of the Duneland Health Council's continuing support of organizations throughout Northwest Indiana.

Purdue University North Central and the Lubeznik Center for the Arts together nominated the Duneland Health Council for this award.

PNC students received the support of the Duneland Health Council for more than 10 years in the form of scholarships, a faculty scholar endowment, funding for the PNC Sinai Forum and a future fitness center.

"Duneland Health Council was nominated because it defines what philanthropy should look like in Northwest Indiana. It has distributed more than $6 million to programs that strengthen the community, address prevention and demonstrate coordination with other organizations," said Melissa Westphal Benefiel, Purdue North Central, director of Development.

"Duneland Health Council Executive Director Norm Steider has been pivotal in working with PNC. If we just highlight the support we received for nursing scholarships, their generosity has impacted the lives and careers of more than 150 PNC students. Most of these students now work in our community providing superior care."

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts has also benefitted from the generosity of the Duneland Health Council. It has received a significant annual grant to sustain its twice weekly art instruction and literacy program to serve individuals with cognitive challenges. Without this financial backing, the outreach program would not exist.

"The Duneland Health Council has impacted so many organizations in our community, "said Benefiel. "Each of us in Northwest Indiana has been touched by this foundation in some way. We nominated the Council to say thank you for investing in the future of so many individuals."

Photo: Pictured from left to right: Carolyn Saxton, The Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Norm Steider, Duneland Health Council, Melissa Westphal Benefiel, Purdue University North Central.