Latest news with #LegacyFoundation
Chicago Tribune
03-08-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: PNW school supplies giveaway set for Aug. 7
The Legacy Foundation has scheduled two events in the coming weeks to engage residents and build growth, according to a release. As a part of the 2025 Community Leadership Series, 'Team Building' will be presented by Purdue Extension educators of Lake and Porter counties from 9 a.m. til noon Aug. 7 at the Legacy Foundation office, 370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100, in Merrillville. Registration is $10 per person. The workshop is designed for Lake County residents and nonprofit staff looking to strengthen their team-building and leadership skills. From 9-10 a.m. Aug. 13, the Executive Director Coffee and Conversation is planned at Indiana Youth Group, 6400 W. Lincoln Highway, Schererville. Nonprofit executive directors are invited for a morning of conversation, peer support and networking. For information on both events, visit Dr. Cory Dehnart has joined the Animal Medical Center of Hebron, according to a release. Dehnart earned both his undergraduate degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University and has pursued advanced training in several areas, including restorative dentistry, laparoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography. He joins Dr. Carrie LaMere at the practice. Animal Medical Center of Hebron offers comprehensive care for dogs and cats of all life stages, from wellness visits and dental care to surgery, diagnostics and specialty services such as laser therapy, the release stated. For information, call 219-996-8387. A 2020 LaPorte High School graduate has won the annual Maria Petti Scholarship from Franciscan Health, a release said. Tristen Poe was recently awarded the Franciscan Health Michigan City 2025 Maria Petti Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship fund was established in 2009 as a living memorial to Petti, who served at Franciscan Health Michigan City for 35 years as a nurse and peri-operative director. The annual scholarship aims to encourage educational excellence in LaPorte and Porter county undergraduate students and offer financial assistance of up to $5,000 to those seeking surgical careers. Poe has worked at Franciscan Health Michigan City as he has pursued his nursing degree, including as a patient companion, student talent acquisition intern and patient care novice. Two aspiring accounting professionals are gaining real-world experience through summer internships with CLH, CPAs & Consultants, a release said. Charlotte M. Dombrowski of Valparaiso and Kristina I. Sherpitis of Beverly Shores joined the firm's Michigan City office to further their education and solidify their career plans. Dombrowski, entering her senior year at the University of Minnesota Crookston, is pursuing a double major in finance and accounting. Sherpitis, a junior at Indiana University, who is also double majoring in finance and accounting, is completing her first internship with CLH. CLH's internship program is part of the firm's long-term strategy to develop top talent in the accounting profession, the release said. The Association of Nature Center Administrators has announced that Heather Hahn Sullivan, Executive Director of Dunes Learning Center, is the winner of the 2025 ANCA Nature Center Leadership Award, according to a release. Sullivan, who attended the center as a high school student, has led a distinguished career in the nature center profession. In 2018, Sullivan became the Development and Marketing Director of Dunes Learning Center and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2022, the release stated. ANCA will recognize Sullivan with this award as part of the Leadership Award Ceremony on Aug. 27 at the 2025 ANCA Annual Summit. Christy Jarka, director of the Duneland School Corp. Trojan Learning Center, has been named the 2025 Duneland Distinguished Woman by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, a release said. The award recognizes a woman in the Duneland community who shows humanitarian spirit, provides valuable services in her field, and helps other women achieve their leadership potential. Nominations for the award come from the community and are reviewed by past recipients. Over nearly 30 years, Jarka has been a teacher, principal and director and leads the Duneland School Corp.'s Trojan Learning Center, which houses Duneland's Early Learning HUB, Developmental Preschool, the Northwest Indiana Online School, and RISE Academy. Matt Slack, facilities and maintenance director for Valpo Parks, recently earned Certified Playground Safety Inspector certification, making him the second CPSI-certified professional on the Valpo Parks team, a release said. The certification program is offered by the National Recreation and Park Association and provides comprehensive and up-to-date training on all critical aspects of playground safety. Slack joins Chris Michalak, who also holds the credential. Purdue University Northwest will host the 'Roaring Back to School' school supplies giveaway events from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 7, on both the Hammond and Westville campuses. The events offer area K-12 students an opportunity to gather the supplies they need for a successful academic year, a release said. The events are free and open to families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade who are from local school districts in the surrounding communities. Attendees will be able to visit various supply stations to pick up essential items, including notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, scissors and more. Students must be present to receive supplies and are encouraged to bring a backpack or bag to collect their items, the release said. The events will be held on the Westville campus in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, and on the Hammond campus at the 169th Street Parking Garage, 2200 169 St., Hammond For additional information, visit
Travel Weekly
01-07-2025
- Health
- Travel Weekly
U.S. lawmakers push for carbon monoxide detectors in hotels and short-term rentals
Chuck Heathco still recalls the last video his son John sent him back in 2023, showing off a beautiful guestroom at the Rancho Pescadero, a five-star beachfront resort on Mexico's Baja peninsula. Within hours of arriving at the property, however, both John and his girlfriend, Abby Lutz, fell ill, reporting severe headaches and nausea. The young couple died soon after, unaware that they had been slowly poisoned in their room by carbon monoxide. "Johnny's death should never have happened, and no family should have to endure the devastation that we have had to live with," his father said. "While he's no longer with us, and we grieve his passing every day, we want to ensure that what happened to him does not happen to anyone else." That determination led Heathco and his wife, Jill, to launch the John Wesley Heathco Legacy Foundation earlier this year. The nonprofit is dedicated to eliminating carbon monoxide poisonings among travelers through advocacy, public awareness, education and technological innovation. The foundation's launch comes as carbon monoxide poisoning at hotels is back in the media spotlight, following two high-profile incidents this year. In February, three American women reportedly died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a hotel in Belize. In March, Miller Gardner, the teenage son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died at a luxury Costa Rican resort in what local authorities attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning, although the investigation is ongoing. Those stories are among the many inspiring U.S. lawmakers to push for nationwide safety standards around carbon monoxide. On June 5, Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) reintroduced the Safe Stay Act in Congress. The proposed federal legislation would mandate carbon monoxide detector installation in all U.S. hotels and short-term lodging properties. Currently, this requirement exists in only 14 states. Chuck Heathco "The Safe Stay Act has been brought before Congress twice in the last five years, but both times it was shut down with not a single Republican vote," Heathco said. While those recent incidents happened overseas, U.S. hotels also face carbon monoxide poisoning risks. According to a study in Preventive Medicine Reports, more than 3,400 carbon monoxide incidents occurred at U.S. hotels between 1999 and 2018, amounting to roughly 170 incidents annually. The Jenkins Foundation -- a nonprofit formed in honor of Daryl and Shirley Jenkins, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a North Carolina hotel in 2013 -- has documented at least 167 deaths and more than 2,500 injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning in U.S. hotels and resorts since 1967. While battery-operated detectors can cost as little as $20, hardwiring systems throughout existing properties requires more significant investment. "I think that the resistance is all financial," Heathco said. "We don't understand how anyone -- from lawmakers to trade associations representing the hotel industry -- could oppose this legislation." The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), which has more than 32,000 lodging property members within its fold, said it urges hotel owners to go beyond minimum requirements. "While carbon monoxide incidents in hotel settings remain rare, AHLA emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to protect guests and employees," said a spokesperson, who added that the group encourages members to follow best practices, including regular inspection and maintenance of fuel-burning appliances, proper installation of carbon monoxide detectors in applicable areas and ongoing staff training on monitoring and emergency response procedures. Major hospitality companies have also addressed carbon monoxide safety. Hyatt Hotels Corp., whose Unbound Collection brand included the Rancho Pescadero resort when Heathco died, said the property was owned and operated by a third party. "Immediately following the tragedy, we launched a rigorous process to review every Hyatt property's compliance with our safety standard," Hyatt said, adding that it "maintains strict safety standards and requires carbon monoxide detectors in all areas of hotels with gas appliances, which meets or exceeds requirements by regional authorities." Taking precautions Travel professionals are not immune to the risks of carbon monoxide. In 2022, three Americans died from reported carbon monoxide poisoning at the Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas, including two travel advisors, Michael and Robbie Phillips. In the wake of their deaths, Sandals Resorts underwent a comprehensive safety review and has installed carbon monoxide detectors across the group's resort portfolio, the company said. Caitlin Stolzenthaler, owner of Curated by Caitlin, was at the Sandals Emerald Bay when the deaths occurred. "Out of caution, we actually slept with the windows open that final night in an effort to put my mind at ease," she said. "That experience left a lasting impression on me." It also prompted her to buy a portable carbon monoxide detector, and she advises concerned clients to do the same and that they be aware of symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning like headaches, dizziness and nausea, which can be mistaken for other common illnesses. Stolzenthaler said the topic of carbon monoxide doesn't come up often, but one of her clients canceled a trip this year due to concern related to the Costa Rica death. Lee Friedman, founder and CEO of Mango Tree Travel, said he had two families headed to Belize shortly after this year's incidents. They opted to buy portable carbon monoxide detectors that cost less than $20. "I always tell my clients that it's worth it to spend a little extra on things that are causing them stress before a family vacation, since traveling with kids is stressful enough," Lee said. "So if $20 and a little extra room in the suitcase could help them sleep better at night, I was all for it."
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Family fights for carbon monoxide safety after personal tragedy: "Tremendous hole in our heart"
Family fights to save others from carbon monoxide poisoning following their own tragedy Following their own tragedy, one family is hoping to help save others from a hidden danger while traveling. In 2023, John Heathco and his girlfriend, Abby, were supposed to be enjoying a long weekend by the beach in Mexico, but within hours of getting to their hotel, they felt like something was off. "They had a couple tacos and some guacamole by the pool, went back to the room and started feeling awful," said Chuck Heathco, father of John. They thought it was food poisoning, but John Heathco's family said the couple's hotel room had been filled with a silent killer: carbon monoxide. "After dinner, they went back to the room and never came back out of the room," said Keri Bliss, John Heathco's sister. Prosecutors said the two had been dead for 11 or 12 hours when they were found in their hotel room. Police said that paramedics received a report that the Americans were unconscious in their room. They were dead by the time paramedics arrived. The 40-year-old's family described him as intelligent, loving and supportive. "He was my best friend, too," said Jill Heathco, John Heathco's mother. Taking action to save lives Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires kills about 400 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Heathco family is speaking for the first time as they launch the John Wesley Heathco Legacy Foundation, an effort to legally require hotels to have working carbon monoxide detectors in each room. Currently, only 14 states mandate it, including: California, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. "Something has to happen to help prevent this from another family suffering, the loss we have with Johnny and Abby," said Jill Heathco. The family hopes to empower travelers with safety information. "Losing Johnny, I pray that no other family has to go through that loss," Jill Heathco said. "We've got a tremendous hole in our heart." Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig and Rep. Mike Levin of California plan to introduce new legislation to require carbon monoxide detectors in hotels and other short-term rentals. "You would think the large hotel chains would actually do this preventively," said Craig. "I mean, these are literally people's lives that are being impacted. People are dying." Lawmakers acknowledge this legislation comes with the cost of installing and maintaining carbon monoxide detectors in each hotel room. "It's common sense and it's something that I hope we can get passed and get signed into law and save lives," said Levin. For the Heathco family, a life saved means one less family living with their kind of heartbreak. "What I think about a lot is I'm the father of an amazing man," said Chuck Heathco. "And to this day, I still find myself wanting to be more like him." Recent carbon monoxide incidents A CBS News data review of FEMA's National Fire Incident Reporting System found that over the last 15 years, fire departments nationwide responded to about 360 carbon monoxide incidents at U.S. hotels and motels annually. Data on deaths from the reported incidents is not closely tracked. In February, three Massachusetts women in their 20s died in their hotel room while on vacation in Belize. The cause was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning. In April, officials in Costa Rica determined carbon monoxide was the cause of death for Miller Gardner, the teen son of retired New York Yankees player Brett Gardner. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include: Headache Dizziness Nausea Vomiting Weakness Chest pain Confusion Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable with detectors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises people to have a separate CO detector on each floor. "If you are getting a single carbon monoxide detector, place it near the sleeping areas and make certain the alarm is loud enough to wake you up," the EPA notes on its website. The agency says like smoke detectors, they need to be tested regularly. Travelers can also purchase a portable carbon monoxide detector for about $25. In a statement, chief communications officer for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Ralph Posner, told CBS News: "While carbon monoxide incidents in hotel settings remain rare, AHLA emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to protect guests and employees. Our members are required to comply with all applicable local and state codes with respect to carbon monoxide detection, typically adapted from the International Fire Code. AHLA also encourages our members to follow industry-wide best practices, including regular inspection and maintenance of fuel-burning appliances, proper installation of carbon monoxide detectors in applicable areas, and ongoing staff training on monitoring and emergency response procedures."
Chicago Tribune
18-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Grant will help students access Ivanhoe nature preserve
A somewhat hidden nature preserve on Gary's West side is set to become an educational beacon, thanks to grants and perseverance. Indiana American Water Monday afternoon awarded the Shirley Heinze Land Trust a $150,000 Water and Environmental grant to turn its Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve, 750 Colfax St., into a place where students and passersby alike can come and take in its wonder. The money gives the nonprofit the final boost it needed to trigger the $977,000 READI 1.0 grant it was awarded under former Governor Eric Holcomb. The trust, which started snagging some 250 unused lots in the area from tax sales after it started in 1981, ended up with 53 acres of pristine dune and swale habitat, Trust Executive Director Kris Krouse said during an announcement at the site. It will now use the $1,177,000 from the READI 1.0, Indiana American Water and a $50,000 Legacy Foundation grant to build a sidewalk to the site from West Side Leadership Academy as well as add a bathroom and improve a bridge over a creek on the property. 'We want to engage students with environmental initiatives,' he said. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said he remembers being taken to Deep River to learn about the Monarch butterfly, so having a project at home will be an investment that will strengthen the city's connection to the environment. Indiana State Senator Mark Spencer, D-Gary, echoed Melton's sentiment. 'As a 33-year veteran educator at West Side, I'm excited for young people to have this wonderful, natural space,' he said. 'The Shirley Heinze Land Trust has been a quiet, powerful force whose work isn't just saving lands, but giving stories to neighborhood and industry. 'We're not breaking ground — we're planting hope.' Northwest Indiana Forum President and CEO Heather Ennis said the Ivanhoe project might not be the biggest in the scheme of the $50 million Northwest Indiana received, but it may have the most impact, while Legacy Foundation President and CEO Kelly Anoe added that when people invest in public space, it's not just about beauty, but equity and resilience as well. When Indiana American Water NWI District Manager Justin Mount got word that he had money to award, the first person he called was NWI Forum Environmental Affairs Director Kay Nelson for suggestions. She immediately told him Ivanhoe South would be the place because the land itself helps recharge aquifers in the area. 'A sidewalk sounds like such simple amenity, but it provides safe transport to 53 acres of dune and swale, and other rich ecological opportunities,' Nelson said. 'You hear the birds, the Spring peepers (frogs), and you see the mayflowers. When Justin made that call to me, and to find out (Ivanhoe) got that match was really an awesome thing.' The Indiana American Water award was the biggest award American Water gave out to the 12 states it covers, Mount added.
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
'We've been paying attention' — Resilience grant is Legacy response to nonprofit cuts
Legacy Foundation has committed $600,000 to shore up slashed budgets for nonprofit organizations hit by state and federal budget cuts. Officials announced the new Lake County Resilience Grant program Thursday in Merrillville with several nonprofit leaders sharing the impact of the government funding cuts to their organizations. 'Huge cuts to state and federal funding have left many local organizations in survival mode,' said Legacy Foundation president and CEO Kelly Anoe. Legacy is Lake County's 30-year-old community foundation that relies on donors for its own funding. 'They're being forced to make heartbreaking choices, cutting staff, reducing hours, scaling back services, and in some cases wondering if they can stay open,' she said. Anoe said government cuts impact more than just nonprofit personnel and projects. 'It could mean that a mom can't get the mental health services she needs. It could mean that a kid loses their after-school program to keep them safe during after school hours. A senior might miss their meal delivery service.' Anoe said thousands of lives are impacted by the abrupt funding cuts. 'At Legacy Foundation, we've been paying attention,' she said. Annie Massie, co-executive director of the Northwest Indiana Food Council, detailed the plight of her nonprofit, founded in 2016 to help farmers make a living and become less vulnerable. She found out in March the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled its funding after it had secured funding last year. Massie said it pulled the rug out from under state agencies and nonprofits but more importantly it hurt small farmers and schools in the Farm to School program that provides local produce to 140 schools in 34 Northwest Indiana districts. 'Our farmers are devastated to say the least,' said Massie. She said some small farms may close 'because they put their faith in the USDA to honor their word in their contracts.' Just recently, Lakeshore Public Media found out the state eliminated its funding, which accounted for 30% of Lakeshore's funding. 'Resilience and adapt, and that's where we are,' said Chuck Roberts, Lakeshore's president and CEO. 'It's time to adapt who we are, and what we do to still try to provide the services to Northwest Indiana.' Roberts said Lakeshore Public Media's mission is community outreach and community service to tell the stories of the people who live in Northwest Indiana. In recent weeks, President Donald Trump issued an executive order defunding of PBS and National Public Radio, calling their programming slanted and 'woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'' The order has been challenged in court. Roberts thanked the Legacy Foundation 'for believing in these stories, believing in the people and bringing the resilience and adaptability that we need.' Other speakers included Josh Austin, executive director of City Life Center in Gary; Andrea Sherwin, president and CEO of Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana and Jennifer Trowbridge, president and CEO of CoAction. City Life Center provides after-school academic programs, and wrap-around mental health services for family members and clothing giveaways for children. Austin said government cuts took about 40 to 50% of his budget. 'Funding cuts directly threaten our ability to positively impact the lives of these young people, as well as their families,' he said. Sherman said Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana serves about 4,000 families in Northwest Indiana. About 80 to 85% percent of its clients are small children ages 0 to 4. Her staff of about 100 employees make about 15,000 home visits annually. 'Our entire goal is on the early intervention or prevention side of mental health,' she said. 'Many of the executive orders have created uncertainty around funding, an increased administrative burden, and narrowed the flexibility needed to provide mental health and Family Wellness services in Northwest Indiana,' she said. Those who suffer the most are children facing trauma in communities already living at the margins, she said. Trowbridge said CoAction, based in Crown Point, offers housing support, federal energy assistance, and aging and disability services. She said cutbacks will mean a 5% drop for aging and disability services. She also said $10 million in federal energy assistance could be at risk. Anoe said nonprofits are able to apply for a Resilience grant on Legacy's website, Organizations must show documented financial losses that are a direct result of federal or state funding cuts or terminated contracts. Eligible organizations can apply for up to 25% of their loss with a maximum of $40,000 within a year.
