Nonprofit organizations serving Porter County spent last Wednesday (May 9) evening sharing their work with each other at the Porter County Nonprofit Expo hosted by the Porter County Community Foundation and United Way of Porter County. More than 300 staff members and volunteers representing 66 different nonprofit organizations participated in the biennial event that was held at the Porter County Expo Center.
“It was a terrific networking opportunity as well as a chance for all of us to learn more about the many wonderful nonprofit organizations serving our community,” said Barb Young, President of the Porter County Community Foundation. NIPSCO and Porter sponsored the event, which was organized to facilitate networking among the nonprofits and their Board members as well as offer a greater understanding of the services being offered in Porter County.
“The chance to be awarded unrestricted grants attracted great board participation and added to the evening’s excitement,” noted Sharon Kish, President of United Way of Porter County. “The Foundation and United Way were thrilled to be able to combine resources to give away a total of $10,000 in grants throughout the evening.” The lucky recipients were Alice’s House, Discoveries Unlimited, Family House, Hilltop Neighborhood House, Opportunity Enterprises, Prevent Child Abuse Porter County, Porter-Starke Services and Valparaiso Family YMCA.
“I know that there is a lot great work being done in Porter County,’ said Bruce Lindner, Executive Director of Porter County Aging & Community Services, whose agency participated in the event. “But you don’t realize how many organizations serve our community until you see us side by side. The Expo gave us a unique opportunity to communicate our missions and celebrate our work with our peers.”
Photo: The Porter County Community Foundation and United Way of Porter County gave away a total of $10,000 in grants at their Nonprofit Expo on May 9. Representatives from Alice’s House, Discoveries Unlimited, Family House, Hilltop Neighborhood House, Opportunity Enterprises, Prevent Child Abuse Porter County, Porter-Starke Services and Valparaiso Family YMCA show their good fortune as recipients of the grants awarded that evening.